“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
I enjoy doing some volunteer work for a museum in my community. But recently, I’ve become frustrated because our beloved museum is suffering from a conflict between various volunteer leaders. The stressful arguments all boil down to one root cause: control. Some volunteers don’t want to work with a much larger community organization that wants to help run the museum. Although partnering with that organization would offer our museum numerous valuable benefits, it seems like key volunteers are refusing because a partnership would require them to give up some control. These are good people who have served our museum faithfully for many years. Yet their desire for control – even at risk of our museum closing – is causing stress for all of us. Many of our volunteers are leaving in frustration. I’m praying that those who are currently focused on control would consider the people in our community over their own interests, and choose the partnership so our museum can survive and serve more people in the future.
In the stress of our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of our own desires and ambitions. We often find ourselves striving for control, seeking to assert our will and assert our dominance over situations and people around us. Yet, as followers of Jesus, we are called to a higher standard – one of consideration, humility, and selflessness. The passage from Philippians urges us to examine our motives and actions carefully. It challenges us to ask ourselves: are we acting out of a desire for control or genuine consideration for others?
Selfish ambition is like a raging river, constantly pushing forward with its own agenda without caring what it may trample in its path. It seeks to elevate oneself at the expense of others, which often leads to conflict, division, and pain. It blinds us to the needs and struggles of those around us, causing us to become so consumed with our own image and status that we neglect the well-being of others.
But humility is like a gentle stream, flowing steadily and nourishing all it touches. It values others, acknowledging people’s worth and treating them with respect and kindness. It looks beyond personal interests and considers the needs of others, seeking to encourage and serve rather than dominate and control.
Consideration is not a weakness. Instead, consideration is a strength that comes from living holy lives. It requires us to lay down our pride and surrender our desire for control, trusting in God’s authority over every situation. Consideration empowers us to listen well, to learn from others, and to pursue unity in our diversity. Jesus – the ultimate example of selfless consideration – demonstrated this perfectly throughout his earthly ministry. He didn’t come to be served but to serve. As the world’s Savior, Jesus willingly sacrificed his life for the salvation of humanity. Jesus’ holy consideration was unlimited. He considered the needs of others above his own in everything he did.
Jesus calls us to follow his example. We need to lay aside our selfish ambitions and vain conceits so we can choose consideration over control. In our communities, we should be known not for our desire to control but for our willingness to consider and serve others.
Dear God, I acknowledge my tendency to seek control and assert my own desires above the needs of others. Forgive me for the times when I have acted out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Help me to develop a heart of humility and consideration, mirroring the example of your Son, Jesus. Teach me to value others above myself, to look not only to my own interests but also to the interests of others. Give me the grace to lay down my pride and surrender my desire for control, trusting in your good purposes for my life. Fill me with your compassionate love so I can help others find hope in you. May my life be a reflection of your grace and mercy so people can discover your love through my witness for you. Thank you, God. I pray this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
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Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on X/Twitter.
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