It
continues to amaze me how often we read the Scriptures and fail to see some
of the statements found in them. A few years ago I was visiting in another
community and worshipped on Lords day morning with the local church and
heard the preacher there read from
Philippians 2:19-24.
Notice part of that with me. Paul wrote: But I trust in the Lord Jesus to
send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your
state. For I have no one like minded, who will sincerely care for your
state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But
you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with
me in the gospel"
(vv. 19-23).
Somehow I had missed the statement "for all seek their own," or at least it
had failed to register in my mind. Now, having finally seen it I believe
there is a powerful lesson taught by Paul in that short statement,
especially when combined with other clear statements of Scripture.
All of us have
experienced dealings with people who show that they are very selfish.
Selfishness in fact seems to be part of being human unless we train
ourselves not to be, and the only reason to so train ourselves is that God
wants us, as his children, not to long for pre-eminence, or to think only of
ourselves and what we may want, but of what is also good for each other.
Earlier in this same chapter Paul told the Philippian brethren: "Let nothing
be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only
for his own interests, but also for the interests of others"
(Phil. 2:3-4).
To the Christians Paul wrote: "Let no one seek his own, but each one the
others well-being"
(1 Cor. 10:24).
In fact, when Paul wrote to the Corinthians showing the nature of the love
that God commands us to have he wrote that love "does not seek its own"
(1 Cor. 13:5).
So loving one another as God demands would do away with such selfishness.
Yet in spite of
this Paul was able to write to the Philippians concerning Timothy, For I
have no one like minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all
seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." Those words will
make you stop and take a good look at yourself! What about me? Am I
self-willed, always wanting my own way and selfishly pushing my plans and
thoughts on others? Is this an indictment of all the other men who worked
with Paul from time to time? At least it seems that this statement was in
praise of Timothy, and suggests that others needed to grow and mature to be
more as he was.
There are
examples in the Scriptures of men who sought their own self and their own
way first. The rich young ruler, as he is often called, exhibits this
attitude of selfishness and unwillingness to put anything on a higher level
of importance that his wealth. Since this young man lived under the Mosaic
law Jesus told him to keep the commandments in order to have eternal life.
But he seemed to want to know more because he had already kept the
commandments from his youth. But Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect,
go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he
~vent away sorrowful, for he had great possessions"
(Matt. 19:21-22).
There is no
doubt that Jesus did not come first with him, or that he loved his wealth
more than he loved God -
Then there are
men like Epaphroditus who was sent by the Philippian brethren to carry
support to Paul. Apparently he stayed with Paul for some time as a fellow
worker and fellow soldier
(Phil. 2:25).
When Paul sent him back to the Philippians he asked them to receive him with
gladness and hold him in esteem, "because for the work of Christ he came
close to death, not regarding his life to supply what was lacking in your
service toward me"
(Phil. 2:30).
We need not think that one must be a preacher to put the kingdom first as
Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount
(Matt. 6:33).
Toward the end of the Roman letter Paul mentions Priscilla and Aquilla, "my
fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life"
(Rom. 16:3-4)
and a great
many people who in one way or another labored with Paul for the Lord. Every
one of us faces the choice as to whether we will "seek our own" or "the
things which are of Christ Jesus"
(Phil. 2:21).
What is
involved in being less self-willed, and less selfish with our lives? Truly
following after Jesus requires self-denial. Jesus told the disciples in
Luke 9,
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow Me"
(v. 23).
In fact, in the following verse Jesus went on to say that this might include
giving up your life for his sake. "For whoever desires to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it"
(v.24).
No one denies that this is hard, but think of those John saw in the vision
recorded in
Revelation 12
who "overcame
him," that is Satan, "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their
testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death"
(v.11).
There was, and there is, something more important than life here on this
earth. Recognize that if you are a Christian then you do not own yourself.
Paul told the Corinthians "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify
God in your body and in your spirit, which are Gods"
(1 Cor. 6:20).
The Macedonians, apparently recognizing this, "first gave themselves to the
Lord"
(2 Cor. 8:5).
Look into your
own heart. Are you more like Timothy and seek the things that are of Christ,
or more like the others and seek your own? I'm afraid such an inner look may
be painful. It was for me.
Guardian of Truth - August 5, 1993
Other Articles
A
Church Kitchen in Jerusalem
God Knows My Heart
A Factious Man
Keep It Between the Ditches
Satan's
Blinders
Problems Concerning Material Prosperity
A Godly Man in Wicked Surroundings
Attitudes Towards the Weak
The Booing Spectators
Two Men Disagree With the Preacher
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www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm
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