“We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. … For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”
Romans 15:1, 3-4 NLT
It is worth repeating Romans 15:1, because Paul appealed to his audience to “not just please [them]selves”. There is something that seems to be ingrained within us and that is the thought, the practice, that we should look after our own interests above all others. We call it selfishness. But Paul also appealed to the Philippians with the same instruction, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:4). And as an example he used the truth that even Jesus “didn’t live to please Himself”. As well as living a sinless and selfless life, Jesus taught His disciples about their relationships with each other. He said, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35). By loving each other we will put the needs of others above our own needs and we will not live just to please ourselves.
In Philippians 2, Paul summarised how Jesus lived. In Philippians 2:6-8, Paul, writing about Jesus, said, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross”. How could the Creator of the Universe cast all the comforts and wonder of Heaven aside and instead become a human being, with all the mortal limitations that such an act would bring? Something incomprehensible and unique among all other religions, until it is discovered what God’s plan would be. Mankind, polluted and corrupted by sin, was at a dead end, and God had a plan to resolve the situation. It involved Jesus, God’s Son, and the whole Bible has a thread of God’s love running through it, with a crescendo of grace and mercy erupting at Calvary. What an example to mankind! What a Saviour!
In Romans 12:10 we read, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another“. We will have plenty of opportunities to be unselfish in this life. It may be something trivial, like allowing some one else to have the last sandwich at a picnic. Or giving way to another car in a traffic jam. There are many stories of unselfish acts carried out by soldiers on a battlefield. examples and opportunities are endless. Jesus showed us what unselfishness looks like. He devoted His life to helping others. As far as we are able, so must we.
Dear God. Looking out for others is at the heart of our faith. Please help us to make good use of every opportunity that comes our way, to prefer others over our own needs. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 