Devotional: August 2007

Much of my life I have lived selfishly.  It’s a natural tendency, of course, to look out for ourselves.  It’s the way of the world, in fact.  We think that if we don’t look out for ourselves first, then no one will; that we’ll get walked on if we put the needs of others before ourselves.  It’s a funny thing how God’s way is so completely different from the world.

Matthew & I just celebrated our second wedding anniversary.  I don’t have the whole married thing completely figured out yet, but I do know that when we both live selfishly, putting ourselves first and our mate second (or somewhere much further down the list), we are absolutely miserable.  On an anniversary or other special occasions, we all usually tend to be especially considerate of people.  So, of course, we spent July 30 remembering our wedding day, trying to do good things for one another.  He helped me clean the house, I made dinner just the way he likes it, we didn’t argue about which movie to rent.  It was the most marvelous day.  And as we were eating dinner, we began to talk about that.  What if we treated every day like our anniversary? 

Paul teaches us in Philippians 2:3 that we are to esteem others better than ourselves.  In other words, we are to place others in a position of greater importance than our own, regardless of their station in life, how deserving they are or how they have treated us.  Verse 7 says that Jesus “…made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant….”  He humbled Himself to die for us and then “…God also hath highly exalted him….”  Instead of putting His needs first, He put the need of the entire world on His shoulders and died in the most humbling way possible.  Because He did that, God the Father exalted Him and He provided salvation for us (met our need).  In the same way, if we put our needs first, we will get only earthly results; but if we put others first, we will get supernatural results. 

It may be uncomfortable at first, but give it a chance.  Make a conscious decision to begin to prefer others over yourself.  For example, instead of racing like the Daytona 500 to beat someone to the only parking space within a mile of Wal-Mart, smile and wave and let them have it.  Then say, “Thank you, Lord, I have legs I can walk on!”  Instead of going through your day like it’s the 50-yard-dash and you have to win, slow down and try to be a blessing to someone.  I guarantee you’ll enjoy even the most mundane tasks when you do that.  When someone at work or home takes credit for an idea you came up with, keep your mouth shut.  They may enjoy their moment of fame, but you have God’s approval and it is better than men’s applause.  Living selflessly is an important key to happiness in life, my friends.  “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:17)  Just try it; it will change you forever.

The best is yet to come.