Philippians 2:1-11 "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
If Jesus - the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Great I AM, Lamb of God - can humble himself and take on the life of a servant, who am I to think I deserve to be treated better than others? Who am I to act as though my life matters more than anyone else's life? Who am I to expect my needs to be met before another's? Who am I to complain about how hard life can be? I have SO MUCH, yet I can be SO SELFISH! John F. Kennedy said it well, "To whom much is given, much is expected." Luke 12:48 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." And then there is the parable of the widow who gave all she had. Luke 21:1-4 "As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'Truly I tell you,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.' "
To the person who has much, much is expected! This doesn't just mean financially. Do I have a house that can be a safe place for others? Do I have clothes that I don't need or use that someone else could use? Is my fridge full? Are my arms capable of giving a hug or a helping hand to someone who needs it? Of course the answer to these questions is yes.
As Christians, we need to live our lives by the words LOVE OTHERS.
L - lend a hand
O - offer grace and mercy
V - live in victory
E - encourage others
O - offer hospitality
T - be giving with your time
H - be humble
E - be eternally minded
R - reach out to the widows and the fatherless
S - preach salvation always
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