LAST PLACE

“Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (Philippians 2:4 The Message).

The world is totally opposite of what God has in mind. It says to serve self, first and watch out for your own wants. The, I will get mine, mentality. When we pray or talk to God we always are asking for help and blessings and very seldom ask God to show us where He wants us to serve. As Christians, it is expressed very simply….LOVE GOD…LOVE ALL OTHERS!!!. And to take that just one step further, here is the order in which we do this.

We must put ourselves in last place! You want blessings?,….. make God number 1 in all your priorities. He is at the top!. .Ok....so now you’re thinking, now my turn right, Me next. Nope…..You want blessings? ,….LOVE GOD 1st, then the LOVE OTHERS part is next. Put others needs ahead of our own. The verse today says ….”forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand”…. We are in last place! That is counter-intuitive to me. But, this last place is where champions reside.

I have learned to believe that happiness begins when we shift the focus away from self. I had to face it, when all I thought of was me, I was a pretty miserable person. Caring for the needs of others is so fulfilling and that is where happiness is. Paul cites Timothy as an example of this in Philippians 2:20-21: “There is no one like Timothy for having a real interest in you; everyone else seems to be worrying about his own plans and not those of Jesus Christ” (TLB).

I have to admit, when I wake up in the morning my first thoughts are not on how everyone else is doing. I just thank God, that I woke up. I am concerned with my own problems. However, I have learned to turn toward lifting others up to God in prayer and asking what can I do to make their way an easier one. I hope, you, along with me want to change our focus. I want to be one of those unselfish people being Jesus in me so as to draw them closer to God.

Focus out and not in. It does not come naturally. We just can’t say it into being! We have to learn to do it through PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE….REPS..REPS ....REPS

I hate to think how many opportunities I have missed because I am not paying attention. I was not taking an active interest in them. I need to look out for other’s needs. Put them first and me last. But as I have heard, there is no use in crying over spilled milk. Instead of lamenting the mistakes made and opportunities missed, I will go forward working to be intentional about looking away from self towards the needs of others.

HAPPINESS IS IN SERVING GOD THROUGH SERVING OTHERS

“The greatest man who ever lived was a servant leader. He came to serve and not be served. Serving others plants happiness and yields greatness.”