Others.

 Php 2:3 … let each esteem other better than themselves. 

Esteeming… having a high regard, a high opinion, a high appreciation of.

Others… a person different than yourself. 

Better… superior in some way (than themselves).

IN the lowliness of OUR minds, we are to ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN OURSELVES.

We live in a world where we are constantly measuring ourselves against each other. It happens all the time, and most of the time it is so automatic to our way of life we don't even recognize it for what it is.  Maybe throughout our lives we've used the measuring stick of self - compared to others so we can feel better or at least competent in ourselves. How do we stand up alongside of our peers? Equality is the base standard most try for, but there are others who long for superiority, and often determine to put others into an inferior situation so they can hold on to their supposed superiority. It's the way of the world we are living in. Having an elite class, upper class, middle, and lower, and so on. Yet, truthfully we ALL know that a lot of the upper (not all) but a lot of those deemed in the upper class of societies are in truth very far from being God's people. They've chosen the world and its riches over the esteeming of others better than themselves.  Can a rich person esteem others better than themselves? Yes, I believe they can, though I believe it's very difficult- near to impossible in most cases according to God's own word. 

Mat_19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God

The willingness from each of us - from the poorest - to the most materialistically rich, has to be willing to give up those tangible riches and the riches longed even as unrealized desires- if they are other than the treasures found in heaven alone.  God help us to this end!

We can be the poorest of the poor yet have our minds and hearts set on riches- the 'if only I were rich', the 'when I get rich', 'being rich would make me different' and so on. As long as we focus on the world's riches, whether truly rich in monetary means, or poor yet longing for riches, we are not seeking the things that are above, we are still caught up in this world's goods, the things of this world.

We need to esteem others BETTER than ourselves. We need to long for OTHERS to know the love of God in all His glory with spiritual eyes that see even more than we could possibly hope for! Others should be our FOCUS. OTHERS. OTHERS. OTHERS.  

GOD and OTHERS.

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory

Our affections- and even the poorest of us can have our affections set on earthly treasures. Our affections must be on things above. Our affections must be on others above ourselves. Please, God, please Father, please help us to forget ourselves and focus on others as YOU would have us do so. Not with the longing to be them if we deem them better than us. Not grateful for not being them if we deem them not better off than us. But rather, Father God, help us to esteem them ALL better than ourselves in longing for all -rich and poor alike to be YOURS, even as we LONG to be YOURS! Give us YOUR HEART IN US, CHRIST IN US- TO LOVE OTHERS AS YOU LOVE US!

(Excerpt Ro. 12 E.J. Waggoner- 1800's)

"In Honor Preferring One Another."

Rom 12:10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another

This can be done only when one is able "in lowliness of mind" to esteem others better than himself. Phil. 2:3. 

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

And this can be done only when one knows his own worthlessness. The man who "knows the plague of his own heart" can not think that others are as bad as himself. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who . . . made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant."