This past Sunday, I returned from a full and rewarding weekend in Big Sandy, Texas. I visited with church brethren, was treated to some amazing southern hospitality, and took in the very hot but beautiful East Texas countryside. Consequently, that Monday when I returned to work, I was excited to share my adventure. So, I did the one thing we humans do when we want attention-- feign momentary interest in someone else and then quickly switch the spotlight to myself. I asked a colleague, "How was your weekend?" Of course, I was hoping for a brief, "ahhh, it was good, how about yours?" Unfortunately, my plan backfired. He launched into a minute by minute recounting of everything he, his wife, children and the family dog had experienced that weekend. Apparently, I had made the mistake of picking someone who had a life.
I wasn't about to give up though. Seeing my opening somewhere after his third paragraph, I dove in with, "Well, at least you stayed cool. You wouldn't believe the weather in Texas...whew was it..." "Yeah, it wasn't too bad here," he butted in, "but you should have seen the..." and off he went again.
I listened politely for a few agonizing minutes until, catching a lucky break, his phone rang and he was forced to break off the conversation. Off I went, searching for someone else with whom I might share my experience. Ideally, someone who hopefully wouldn't have their own story to tell.
Okay, I realize I'm exposing a bit of personal carnality here. But, c'mon, you've all been there, right? Each of us, at times, gets so focused on our little corner of existence that we forget there are other people out there. People who have lives and experiences they care about just as much as we care about ours. Sometimes we forget that the earth doesn't stop spinning for other people when we leave the room. It's those times that being confronted by a message on a t-shirt that plainly, albeit rudely, tells it like it is from the perspective of those having to put up with our self-centered attitude, might actually do us a service.
Paul, writing to the Philippians tells them, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4
It's a great idea in theory. Most of us can manage to look out for other peoples interests at least some of the time. But seriously, "esteem others better than myself?!" That's a pretty tall order, isn't it? That would require not only showing interest in the lives of others, but actually caring more about their lives than mine. How many of us really do that?
Well, come to think of it, there is one person who did.
Of all men who have lived, I'm sure we'd all agree that Jesus had the most amazing story to tell. Trip to Texas? Huh? Try a first class seat at the helm of the universe! Yet, with so much that He had to share with others, that's not what He led with. He came first and foremost ministering to the needs of others. He sacrificed His own needs, His own comfort, and ultimately His own life so that others could find meaning and purpose in theirs.
It's an attitude I wish I displayed more often than I do.
Wait a minute. I can.
Paul continues in Philippians 2:5-7, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men."
That mind, that heart towards the needs of others can and should be in me. His mind in me should cause me to care about the things that He cared about. His primary care was directed, not inward toward the self, but outward toward others.
Our Lord's example is pointing us to a life lived outside the self, isn't it?
We live that life in a million little ways; sacrificing something we want so that we can contribute to someone who needs it more; directing our energy, skills, and our precious time to further other people's goals rather than our own.
Paul also tells us here that caring for the needs of others above our own needs is not something we can force. Forcing ourselves to love and care for others, when our heart isn't really invested, is an exercise in futility and a recipe for resentment. As Paul says here, we have to "let this mind be in (us)...". It's not something we force, it's something we allow. We have to allow His Spirit to work in us, filling us with His love so that we can share it freely with others.
Just imagine the day when His love will fill this earth and the hearts and minds all who inhabit it. There will certainly be much less taking and a lot more giving. Folks will be less focused on serving the self and more focused on serving others. And I'm not sure - it's just a hunch - but I'm guessing we won't see too many of those t-shirts around either.