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 bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5–8
On January 20, 1961, newly inaugurated president John F. Kennedy gave his famous speech which he concluded with the words, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. . . . Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” Of all the virtues that Christianity teaches, selflessness is paramount, for until we learn to give up ourselves and to put God first, we will never know what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
The world tells us to watch out first for ourselves. Selfish ambition is the way of the world. When tension arose between the respective herdsmen of Abram and Lot, Abram told his nephew to take his choice of the land before them, of which he chose for himself the well-watered Jordan plain and thus “pitched his tent even as far as Sodom” (Genesis 13:10–12). When God gave Israel the victory at Jericho and prohibited them from taking of the spoil, Achan coveted certain items and took them (Joshua 7:21). Who would every know? Lot lost not only his fortune in the destruction of Sodom, but also his sons-in-law, his wife, his honor, his daughters’ purity, and any self-respect he ever had had (Genesis 19:24–26, 30–38). Achan not only lost his life and his family, but also caused Israel to flee before a weaker enemy and to lose 36 men (Joshua 7:4, 25). God has offered us a better way and a happier way, but in order to live by it, we must trust God to work things out, especially when things aren’t going our way.
Christ teaches us to be more concerned about others than ourselves. He taught His disciples not to seek self-elevation. When the mother of James and John requested for them positions of high rank in the kingdom (Matthew 20:21–22), Jesus told them all, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you...” (vv 25–26). He taught them instead to be servants. He went on to say that the great one in God’s kingdom is the one who serves just as Christ had come to be a servant (vv 26–28). He taught them to be humble as little children (Matthew 18:3–4; Luke 18:16), and He demonstrated these virtues in both His life and His death. Instead of pleasing Himself, He suffered reproach for our sakes (Romans 15:3). Instead of demanding that His disciples serve Him, He washed their feet (John 13:3–17). He exchanged wealth for poverty so that we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). He gave up His place of equality with God and humbled Himself to the status of a servant to common men (Philippians 2:5–7).
Let us learn to take self out of the picture altogether. I must learn to think of my brother first (1 Corinthians 10:23–24). I must aim never to offend, but always to be peaceable (1 Corinthians 10:31–33). To do these things, I must first die to myself by putting off the old man of corruption and putting on the new man (Ephesians 4:20–24). Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9:23–24).
If you live for yourself, you will never find happiness. Although we don’t know very much about Satan, apparently pride was his downfall (1 Timothy 3:6); when we lift ourselves up we are bound to fall. One the other hand, the Son of God humbled Himself to serve man and die for him, and God lifted Him up far above all (Philippians 2). May His mind be in each of us.