“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” - Philippians 2:3 NKJV
“The opposite of love isn’t hatred but selfishness.” – Dr. Mensa Otabil
Because God knows our hearts, He is concerned about our motives behind our actions more than the actions themselves. As Christians, we have God’s love in us through the Holy Spirit. And because of that, we have an inherent desire to please God. In other words, we desire to do the things God wants. The desires of God are the desires of His Spirit in us; and such are in constant war with the desires of the flesh in our minds. One of them is selfishness and selflessness.
Selfishness is a deed of the flesh; which means it wars against the Spirit’s desire for us to be selfless.
In Philippians 2:3, the apostle Paul tells us not to do anything out of selfish ambition. In other words, he is saying that we should root out every selfish ambition in everything we do. That sounds more like mental work than physical work to us because men cannot know the motives behind their actions, especially when the actions appear good before people.
Your flesh doesn’t stop fighting the godly desires in you just because you prayed or fasted. Through the power of the Spirit at work in you, keep the flesh subjection. In lowliness of mind, find joy in meeting the needs of people by placing their interests ahead of yours. As Jesus interceded and did so many wondrous works just for doubting people to believe He’s the Messiah, so you should partner with God in reverence to do things for the benefit of others.
You’re a blessing.
Devotional Code: KGD // 2022 – 030
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