“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
A few months ago I heard a devotional that has really stuck with me. In all honesty, I only remember two words of the devotional but they bear repeating – over and over again. Those two words are: “Others first.” I can’t tell you how many times I have said those words to myself since then. When someone cuts in front of me in traffic or the checkout line, when at a four-way stop, when another gets something I wanted, when someone asks a favor that requires sacrifice on my part. I have been in each of those situations since then, and before responding, I have silently said, “Others first.” Then I can respond as God would have me respond. When saying those words to myself, I often think of this verse. It’s a great verse. In my opinion, it’s one of the gems to have tucked in our memory to remind us how to live as Christ followers. It’s one I should remind myself of often.
If it’s such a great verse and if I have it memorized, why do I need to keep reminding myself? Shouldn’t this type of behavior be habit by now? In a way, yes it should. It does become more and more natural as we grow in Christ. But Satan, the world, and even our own flesh continually tell us differently. How often do we hear, “Look out for number one,” or some other saying with similar meaning? Even our own earthly desires will tell us similar lies. When we believe those lies, we act out of vain conceit. Vain, meaning empty or groundless. Conceit, meaning thinking that we’re greater than we are. Believing that way is a perfect breeding ground for feelings of anger and resentment, which can easily lead to strife and a dividing of the body of Christ.
What happens when we choose to believe truth instead of those lies? First, we see ourselves as we truly are. That doesn’t mean we become scum-of-the-earth doormats. This verse doesn’t say we’re worse than anyone else. That’s a very important distinction. Rather, we’re realistic about ourselves. That’s true humility. We see ourselves as God sees us: beloved but helpless without Him. And we don’t see others as superior to us. In fact, if we’re being realistic, we’ll see that they are exactly like us: also beloved and also in need of the Savior. That puts us in a position to join God in loving that person, perhaps loving them all the way to the foot of the cross! Choosing humility isn’t an attitude of putting ourselves down. In fact, it isn’t about us at all. It’s all about choosing to say, “Others first.”