3 Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. 4 Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.
Reflection
This is one of those passages that’s liable to be misinterpreted – not because it’s message isn’t clear, noble or good, but because many of us in the church struggle with our own self-perception.
“Think of others as better than yourselves,” is one of those phrases that maybe loses a little bit of meaning when we try to translate it 2000 years later. A lot of us struggle with a failure to understand our actual worth. We might have an intellectual understanding of God’s love for us, and the value God places on us, but we can still have a hard time keeping negative thoughts and self-talk at bay. We haven’t internalized that we are God’s own unique creation, cherished and beloved. So we may be tempted to interpret “thinking of others as better” as thinking less of ourselves. Some people may need that message. But I have a feeling a lot of folks probably don’t need any help tearing themselves down. That shouldn’t be.
“Thinking of others as better” in this context means to act toward others the way that you might treat a high official or someone whose authority or standing clearly exceeds yours. In other words, act with deference, respect, and hospitality to care for them as you would a VIP – a high official, a star, someone you greatly admire.
When we think in these terms, it’s no longer about what we believe about ourselves. It’s about what we believe about the other person – that they are VERY important, and that they are worthy of every effort to make them feel at home. We naturally watch out for what’s good for them when we approach with this mindset.
Can you imagine how the world would look if we actually took this message to heart? What if every interaction with every person was like we were interacting with the *most* VIP of VIPs? The standard Paul is holding up for us is not about making us feel bad, but about lifting up those around us in every way, as often as we can.
by Joe Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
Is there a concrete way you can make someone in your orbit feel like the VIP that they are – in Christ’s name?
Prayer: We recognize that every single person we meet is your creation, amazing, unique, and loved beyond measure. Help us today to treat every person with respect, care, and love. Amen.
