Php
2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
What sort
of world would this look like if everyone followed the advice from that
verse? NOTHING being done through
STRIFE, NOTHING being done through VAINGLORY. EVERYTHING being done with
lowliness of mind, humble, EVERYONE esteeming EVERYONE ELSE better than
themselves.
I'm not
talking with that bitterness and grudging admittance that someone is better
than you while you secretly want to be the one who is better. I'm talking a
true, humble, loving comprehension that loving others and considering their
worth so valuable that no matter the circumstance they are worth more than you,
and worth sacrificing yourself for, that's the kind of esteeming others better
than ourselves I'm talking about.
Isn't that
what CHRIST JESUS did?
The worth
of Christ is so far beyond full comprehension yet He did NOT consider Himself
before He considered others. If anyone had a right to consider themselves
better than another it would have been Jesus. Yet He spent His ministry here on
earth humble, lowly of mind, putting on no airs whatsoever, hobnobbing with the
rough rabble and least esteemed in the eyes of others. He did not seek any fame
or fortune. He had a tremendous following of over five thousand people
(remember this was a much different time no twitter, instagram, facebook, or
social media of any kind - uhm, no electricity). He had this huge following and
most of them left Him when He revealed that He wasn't there to be made their
earthly king, that He wasn't going to raise up an army to fight against the
Romans ruling over them. He did not want earthly fame at all!
Jesus
wanted people to recognize that hope is found in the truth of the love of God.
He wanted people to know that THIS EARTH, THIS LIFE they were now living was
NOT all there was to life. Jesus came to tell people of the eternal life that
could be theirs once they made it through this temporary life. Jesus did not tell them it was automatically
theirs. That every single human being would make it to the eternal life
offered. Remember Jesus said this --
Mat
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven.
Mat
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works?
Mat
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,
ye that work iniquity.
Jesus came
preaching the good news of eternal life, the kingdom of heaven, but He outright
told people that not everyone who would say to Him that they followed Him and
did things in His name would enter into heaven. Jesus is going to tell these
people that He never knew them, to get away from Him because they truly work in
sin. These people THINK they are His, but they are not. How many of these self-deceived people along
with the blatant haters of Jesus Christ, will not make it into Heaven?
Mat
7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat:
Mat
7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it.
FEW will
find it.
Mat_24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great
signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the
very elect.
Deceive
everyone… but the very elect.
Mat
19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good
thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat
19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good
but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments.
Mat
19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou
shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false
witness,
Mat
19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself.
Mat
19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my
youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat
19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou
hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come
and follow me.
Mat
19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful:
for he had great possessions.
Mat
19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a
rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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.
Mat
19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying,
Who then can be saved?
Mat
19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is
impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Mat
19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken
all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mat
19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have
followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of
his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel.
Mat
19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters,
or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall
receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mat
19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be
first.
This kind
of brings it right to the point doesn't it?
What
priority does God place in our life? Where does Jesus fit into our lives?
We can't
imagine forsaking much of anything in our life because we've spent a lifetime
accumulating things. We have put so much before Jesus in our lives. I sit
surrounded by my earthly treasures, in particular right at this moment I am
literally surrounded by most of my Christmas treasures that I store away each
year only to bring out the next. Gold (not real but in color), silver, bright
and glittering treasures sparkling all around me I can see the sunlight shining
on my walls covered in shiny cards and ribbon. Can I imagine forsaking all of
this.
Right
about now you're saying HOLD UP, STOP, you're not REALLY thinking we need to
forsake all that stuff- our family too, are you?
I guess
not. But I am asking you as well as myself, to CONSIDER exactly what has the
highest priority in our lives. If we were ASKED to leave is all for Christ,
would we? Or are we among the people who
tell ourselves that Christ would never ask us to do such a thing, not really,
He understands that we can't leave our families and such.
Jesus does
NOT want us to leave all and follow Him in the exact same way He told that rich
young man. Jesus does want us to follow His teaching first in our lives and
that means what? ESTEEMING ALL OTHERS
BEFORE OURSELVES. If in that esteeming
we are called out to a ministry of serving that calls for us to sacrifice
earthly ties - then we must do that. Where does God rate in your life? What
priority does He have? If I told you
that God wanted you to give 100 dollars to the next homeless person you see,
you wouldn't believe me first of all- but even if you had an inkling that maybe
God did want you to do that, could you? How near and dear is that 100 dollars
to your heart, to your sense of well-being, to your comfort and thought of
surviving by supplying your own needs by paying your bills with that money, or
buying food and necessities with that money?
This is
truth-
Mat_16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mar_8:36
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul?
Luk_9:25
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or
be cast away?
Mat
16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat
16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will
lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat
16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and
lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat
16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Php
2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others.
Php
2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php
2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God:
Php
2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php
2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php
2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name
which is above every name:
Php
2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php
2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.
God first.
Others
second.
Ourselves
last.
All
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
All
through the hope of Jesus Christ.
All
through our Heavenly Father's will, and His good pleasure.
I yield. I
surrender all.
