Esteem Others Better Than Yourself
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 New Living Translation
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3 NIV
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.KJV
Most of us say we are Christians but we have never really understood the true meaning and reality of Christianity. To be a Christian is to be Christlike above every other desire. Jesus was humble and presented Himself as a servant. He served, loved and respected everyone.
False Christianity, lip service and flattery towards God and man is indeed a very sad thing. Hypocrites are worse than unbelievers because their evil attitude mixed and masked under the cloak, garment and guise of Christianity actually repels potential converts and believers.
We must preach by our actions as light of the world and salt of the earth. Action speaks louder than words – we cannot go about proclaiming Christ and at the same time spew hateful, evil and proud comments on social media that ridicule and demean others – God is indeed watching us.
‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8
The Lord said, “These people claim to worship me, but their words are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized. Isaiah 29:13
Todays Scripture says we should value and esteem others above us. This attitude flows from humility and truth however, most of us have forsaken humility and complete truth. We live in partial truth.
The truth is that humility and selflessness will achieve what money, physical beauty and technology cannot achieve. Money and technology are good but if they are not used with humility and truth, they can be used as instruments of death, subjugation, discrimination, slavery and every form of vice until man destroys humanity.
We must begin to practice the art of honoring and respecting every human regardless of their physical appearance and circumstances. Once we begin to see everybody with the eyes of love the way God sees everyone, we will become less selfish and honor and respect everyone. This will lead us to reject rudeness, mockery, scorn, envy, racism, tribalism, jealousy, spite, malice, unhealthy competition with others and every form of vice.
May God increase our love for others to perfect love. May we be found blameless in His sight as we wait for Jesus Christ.
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24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. Matthew 10:24-26
Thanks for the lovely Scripture and response. “The disciple is not above his master.” So true – may we always remember this. ❤️❤️❤️🙏
Praise The LORD!
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Amen. The word of God is sharper than two edged sword. Glory to God – may His word always be glorified above man’s philosophies🙏
That’s so true, the Bible says that in the last days there will be lovers of themselves…
Thanks for the insightful contribution. Yes, the Bible says so and it is unraveling and unfolding before our eyes. Blessings ❤️❤️❤️🙏
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Amen!
Great post and reminder of what it means to follow Yeshua (Jesus). However, the verse in Philippians 2 is incomplete without the very next verse. I say this because I have seen so many people interpret the verse you quoted, Phil. 2:3, as meaning nothing more then thinking warm thoughts of people and praying for them. This is the type of behavior James was writing about in James 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (ESV)
The full quote from Philippians 2:3-4 is, “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.” (NIV)
In other words (and as you point out in your post), don’t just talk or pray about it. Do something about it. Here is a perfect example of what this may look like in our churches today. Say you want or even ‘need’ some new clothes. Instead of getting them, give the money to a family or person in your church that could use it. Better yet, take a single parent or person on social security out to get something new for themselves (but without calling undue attention to yourself). Many will say that they give their used clothes to others. That is good and does fill a need, but true worship, as shown in the Bible, comes from giving of the best one has. Consider the entire sacrificial system that God ordained. He called for unblemished (read ‘best’) animals. (Yes, the sacrificial system was a form of worship). Until we learn to actually put others first, we will never really understand why Yeshua (Jesus) picked out only the widow woman, giving all she had to live on, as opposed to all the others giving at the Temple (Mark 12:42-43).
In summary, the verses in Phil.2:3-4 do indeed include speech (and writing) as you point out so well, but it also includes physical action that may cost us.
And I love the way way you ended your post in those last two paragraphs. Summed up in your words, “We must begin to practice the art of honoring and respecting every human regardless of their physical appearance and circumstances [and social status].”
– Yosef
Thanks a lot for the very insightful contribution. So true, we must go out of our way to be charitable and give the very best – that is true worship. Love must be sincere in every aspect – thoughts, speech and action. Blessings ❤️❤️❤️🙏
Loving His Word! IT IS WRITTEN KJBible: Phil 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
‘That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke.’ Thanks for the very relevant Scripture and contribution. Blessings ❤️🙏
We are His Body on earth…as we unite in His love and keep looking up❣️
Amen, we are His body and we are one family as we honor, love, and esteem one another. 🙏❤️
Amen!! Love it
Thanks a lot for the lovely response and reblog.🙏❤️
Your very welcome!
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Yes, that is true.
Thanks for the lovely response 🙏❤️
You’re welcome!
Laura writes… “To be a Christian is to be Christlike above every other desire.”
I thought being a Christian meant that one knew he was a lost sinner in need of a Savior and recognizing such, accepted the amazing gift of free grace God offers any who would simply make that gift his own…
Yes, that is the foundation but we must climb higher to maturity and strive to be blameless. We must put on the whole counsel of the word of God or the armor of God. We must come with faith in the finished work of Christ and become Christlike. We must be balanced. ❤️🙏
Explain to me if I am incorrect here but I see religion in your reply. To sum, you write: “yes, but… and, we must, we must, we must, we must.” You use the word “must” four times in your short reply. Where does this leave the man so plagued by sin that he trusts In Christ’s atoning death, burial and resurrection (1 Cor 15:1-4 KJB) but “doesn’t, doesn’t, doesn’t and doesn’t“?
Not that your admonitions are bad things of course, they are indeed excellent. Whenever I see the word “but” or “and” right next to acceptance of the gospel of grace (as opposed to the Kingdom gospel) I become a bit suspicious that religion has crept its way back in to the mind. The book of Galatians is a superb rebuttal to such thinking.
grace and peace, Laura…
Your reply is very interesting but this message is for believers and it encourages us to be mature in love. Are you going to scorn maturity and complete love because of faith?
Jesus and Paul were giants of faith, yet they preached maturity. Yes we must because it is a commandment.
We must, we must, we must, we must by the grace of God. God’s grace is available if we humbly approach His throne and ask. There is simply no way around it.
I am a woman of faith and I know all about faith but believe me, I encourage myself and others to be balanced and not have single or double vision. We must have multiple visions of the word of God and shun inclinations to be malnourished which comes from single or double vision. We must put on the whole counsel of the word of God and the armor of God.
Without faith it is impossible to please God, however, love is the greatest. All the fruits are vital and very important.
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Revelations 3:2
This word is from the mouth of Christ – it is not religion. There’s is a good news, message, and gospel of salvation and there is a law. They are all important in the eyes of God. The works are an expression of our gratitude, faith and love for God who saved us with the blood of Jesus. Grace must also be respected and not abused by not walking in obedience and holiness. Your faith is dead without accompanying actions. We must have super faith and have super obedience. 🙏❤️
Who is your Apostle Laura?
Your question is not very clear. Can you please clarify.
Certainly, I’m sorry about that. The Lord Christ chose and sent 12 apostles to the 12 tribes of the nation Israel. He did this when He was manifest on earth in the flesh. Who did He, as the risen, glorified and ascended Lord send as the Apostle of the Gentiles? You and I are Gentiles (not Israelites). Who is our Apostle?
Paul
Exactly right. If Paul is our Apostle, why are you quoting, as if to follow, James when you say faith without works is dead?
Paul alone is our pattern. James is one of Israel’s patterns.
I follow the whole Bible and I compare Scriptures. I do not choose which one to accept or reject. I have many Scriptures that tell us to be perfect, pure, complete, blameless, faultless and mature.
The Holy Spirit was speaking through all of the writers and there is no contradiction. These Scriptures are found in different books of the New Testament. I could have written them out but they are just too many. That is my own opinion and I think we should all go according to how the Spirit is leading us.
The Holy Spirit is the only one that can perfectly interpret and explain the Scriptures and we are all under His Lordship. He is the one that was speaking through Paul, James and the other Apostles.
Let us all run with the knowledge we have because we cannot all be at the same level of knowledge, understanding, revelation, truth, grace, wisdom, growth and maturity. As long as we desire truth and are sincere, God will keep enlightening us by the power of His Holy Spirit – the Spirit of truth. Blessings ❤️🙏
The Holy Spirit was certainly speaking through all the writers and there are perfectly clear contradictions in our Bible. That’s okay. That does not mean one writer was “wrong” and the other “correct”. See Romans 4:1-5 and James 2:21-24. Allow the contradiction to stand but know that the intended audience is different. Both are Bible truths but they are truths to different groups of people. One Jew and the other Gentile.
This is called rightly dividing the scriptures. It is the key which unlocks the entirety of the Bible to our clear and simple understanding.
Sure we are all in different places regarding our understanding of scripture. God through Paul tells us to study to shew ourselves approved (2 Tim 2:15). The key to this study is right division. It is obscured in all but the King James Bible.
You are right on the edge of a very great truth. Don’t take my word for it. Allow the Bible to say what it says and mean what it says.
Grace and peace to you Laura. It’s very clear your love for His Word. I’d love to continue this conversation and try to answer any questions you may have. If you begin to explore seriously, there will be many! God will continue to enlighten us by His Spirit and His Spirit authored every word of our one Book. We just have to dig into it earnestly.
Blessings to you and yours;
Ted
Thank you so much for the contribution. Grace and blessings to you always ❤️❤️❤️🙏
There are no contradictions in the Bible when we are led by the Holy Spirit and He is the one that teaches, explains, interpreters and gives us the meaning of Scriptures. Scriptures might says different things but the central message and meaning is always one.
When we read the Bible with our own understanding and interpretations, of course we will see contradictions. The Bible was never meant to be interpreted with our own senses. Men were led by the Holy Spirit when they wrote it so if the Holy Spirit teaches and interprets it, we will not see contradictions. When there is no Holy Spirit, people deviate into false practices and religions. Men will give Scriptures several interpretations but the interpretation of the Holy Spirit is always one. He does not contradict Himself.
As a Prophet, Evangelist and Teacher of the good news the Lord started teaching me the Scriptures from a very early age in visions and trances. He is the one that made me leave the Church I was born into because He gave me the correct meaning of Scriptures but that Church is full of error due to their own human interpretations. He did it through several visions, trances and revelations. God saved me by His Holy Spirit not by my own natural understanding. That Church does not follow the Holy Spirit but their flesh and human understanding. Without the Holy Spirit I would have been lost in darkness and error so I thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I do not see contractions. When two Scriptures look as if they contract, the Holy Spirit gives me the meaning of those Scriptures and the meaning, interpretation, explanation, and teaching is always one. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and the revealer of truth and mysteries. He never contradicts Himself.
Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. 1 Corinthians 2:13
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13
I had to clarify this for my readers and those who will read these comments because I owe it to them to make sure they are not confused. Blessings ❤️🙏
I certainly agree with humility and selflessness (as much as that is possible). But esteem others as better than yourselves? No. As children of God we are absolutely equal. God simply does not care about our ideas of “better person” or “worse person”.
Thanks a lot for the lovely response. Scriptures have interpretation and meaning but you assume the Scripture is talking about a literal meaning or interpretation. I believe it implies sacrificial love, humility, serving others the way Jesus did and demonstrated by washing the His Disciples feet.
If Jesus was arrogant or proud He would not have done that and a lot of believers today will not do that. I believe this Scripture does not have a literal interpretation but digs deep into humble sacrificial love that does not look down on others. Blessings 🙏❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for your rapid response… Actually I don’t believe in a literal interpretation (Bible is authoritative, not literal) but I take your main point. FAR too much arrogance in the Kingdom these days. My motto: be humble… or be humiliated–your choice. God bless your walk…
Amen. God bless you and keep you in His arms. ❤️🙏