Others

Good Morning,

Patch the Pirate is certainly a favorite character among the children of our church. In his adventure story, “Kidnapped on I-Land,” there is a character called “King Me First.”  We all know the Scripture passage that says “love thy neighbor as thyself,” but we could add a few words from Philippians 2 which says, “look not every man also on his own things, but on the things of others.”  Most people have heard someone in a pulpit mention the subject of putting Jesus first, others second, and yourself last.

In 1 Kings 1:5, one of David’s sons decided that he would be the next king. One phrase is very key, “Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself.” When we consider the Christian life, we can look to John the Baptist who said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

In Acts 5, we find the story of Ananias and Sapphira, the couple who sold a piece of land and gave only a portion of the money, yet said they had given it all in hopes of making themselves look good.

Christianity in its purest form is certainly one of self-denial, not self-promotion. Jesus said, “If any man come after me, let him deny himself…”

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Christianity must be built upon making others look good, rather than ourselves. Think of the number of times people have pushed to be first.  I remember the story of a checker at a local grocery store who said, “Two people were coming for the same checkout line.  One person shoved the cart quickly in front of the other.  The person who got the second-place ribbon, casually walked up to the person in front of her and pushed their cart over and dumped all the groceries onto the floor.”  I guess second place meant very little in their minds.

At the airport, we often see pre-boarders passengers (people who, for some physical reason, get an okay to get on the plane before everyone else). I find it interesting how many of those people look completely well. I do not mind them pre-boarding, I just know I would need to have a severe problem before I could ask to go first, to get a better parking spot, or to go to the front of any line.

Promoting ourselves is not a Christian value.  Promoting one’s self is carnal and satanic.  

Isaiah 14:13 “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:”

vs. 14* I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

May we train our children to open doors for others, to stand back while another goes before them, and to pass the plate of food to another before grabbing for themselves.  

When The Salvation Army had their annual meeting, William Booth, the founder, was unable to attend due to age and ill health.  He wrote a telegram to be read to the delegates; it was titled "Others."  His main objective was to focus on others.  We must have the same message if we are to have a blessed marriage; so it would be in our churches if we could gain the mentality of serving others and not ourselves.  

Paul had started the church in Corinth; the Corinthians were his converts, and, no doubt, he had trained many of them.  As time passed, they were more impressed with themselves and began to criticize Paul.  His response was amazing:

1 Corinthians 3:5 “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?”

The ministry was not about Paul, but about Jesus and what He did for us and through us.

Others!

Pastor