Proper Life Management vs. Selfishness
by Julia Fowler, Worship Arts Pastor
Text: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 NASB
This verse seems rather appropriate to me for the season at hand. At first glace Paul's verse sounds like instruction to not do anything for ourselves: no new jeans, no trips to the hair dresser, no computer software, games, or anything that could be perceived self-serving. But if we walked away with this perspective we would be in error, and miss the greater truth Paul was trying to help us realize.
Max Lucado helps give us some perspective: The word the apostle uses for selfishness shares a root form with the words strife and contentious. It suggests a self-preoccupation that hurts others. A divisive arrogance. In fact, first-century writers used the word to describe a politician who procured office by illegal manipulation or a harlot who seduced the client, demeaning both herself and him…
The truth is that looking after yourself, your family, and your interest is responsible: it is proper life management. BUT that is to be coupled with an exterior consideration for the world at large. Our goal as Christians is to be inclusive with the world around us--to not only look after our interests but also the interests of others. If our interests are only self-serving, or our only interest is to provide for ourselves to the exclusion of others, than we have in fact fallen into a pattern of selfishness that should be addressed and confessed.
Again. Looking after your personal interests is proper life management. Doing so to the exclusion of the rest of the world is selfishness.
In your gift giving and all that you do, remember to keep others in mind as well and that will be pleasing to the Lord.
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