Placing Others First

Let everyone of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. Romans 15:2

The call to follow Christ is a call to sacrificial living. It is a call to be like Jesus, who loves others more than he loves Himself. It is a call to put others before ourselves. This is not in keeping with our culture.

Sacrificial living goes against the grain of everything we are taught. At its heart, it goes against our fallen nature to put anyone but self first. But we must never forget that Christ came to change our natures to be like His.

Philippians 2:3 says, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” Ephesians 5:2 commands us to “walk in love, as Christ has also loved us.” And in John 13:34-35, Jesus told His disciples that the love they had for one another would give evidence that they were His disciples. That applies to us, too. What a difference Christians can make in the world if we would but take Jesus’ admonition seriously!

At the end of the day, love is to be seen in what we do, not merely in what we say. Love your neighbor today. Seek for his or her good. That will please the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, help me think of others before I think of myself.

Angela Poynter