Thought for 26 February

 Philippians 2:3-4

Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

  Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. 

Today’s reading gives us some direction on how to live our lives in the form of a few instructions.  Only a few lines of print but with so much meaning and wisdom.

Selfish is a word that my parents used to describe my behaviour occasionally when I was young.  It usually related to a situation where I was reluctant to share something I had with another young person.  When I checked the Thesaurus, other terms to describe what ‘selfish’ meant were: self-centred, self-interested, self-seeking and self-regarding.  Prior to this, I had only looked at the word in its entirety and had missed the importance of the word ‘self’ in its meaning.  As we get older, it might mean less about sharing and more about the time we set aside for others and the quality and value of what we say and do during that time.  It is also important to learn that it is better for us to think another person is better than us than ever think that we are better than them. 

We are not to live each day continually trying to make a good impression on others or maybe constantly trying to look good in the eyes of others.  I suppose this could also mean not trying to keep up with those we know in terms of possessions, fancy holidays etc.  or boasting about the latest home improvement or how well children or grand children are doing at school or in their careers.  It looks like the message is not to get into these types of competition and be content with what you have been blessed with. 

The final piece of guidance is not just to be interested in what’s going on in our own lives but to take an interest in others and what they are doing.  I don’t think for a minute the intention is for us to become nosey, I think its more about being prepared to listen to what people have going on in their own lives and maybe offering advice or empathy as well as sharing with them all the things that are going on in your own. 

I have a good friend who posts each week about ways to maintain your mental health.  He organises a group of people who meet at the same time each week to walk and basically have a blether.  This week he writes: talking reduces feelings of isolation, it provides emotional release, it can offer new perspectives, it can strengthen social connections, it can strengthen relationships and create a sense of belonging, it can alleviate stress and anxiety and normalise mental health.  At the conclusion of this week’s offering, he adds the caveat: ‘but remember, it is also good to listen and as my mum used to say ‘God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason’. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to do nothing out of selfish motives or ungodly incentives.  Instead, with a humble heart, we pray for us to truly value others above ourselves.  May all we do in our lives be always to Your praise and glory.   Help us to recognise and respond to the needs of others, willingly, cheerfully, with humility of heart, and gentleness of spirit.  May we not be so concerned with our own needs that we miss the aching need or needs of another.  This we ask in Jesus' name, Amen

(with thanks to knowing-Jesus.com)