Sunday, December 21, 2008

The “Me First” Mentality - Cont.

Luke 9:57-62

Let’s consider some ways we can be guilty of the “me first” mentality in our family relationships. Christians have duties to members of their physical families - Co 3:18-21 “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” ; Ep 5:22,25,33 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” – “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Many families suffer when people seek their own interests above another:

1.) When husbands and wives are selfish in their dealings with each other.

2.) When parents divorce without regard to the impact on their children.

3.) When children fail to honor and obey their parents.

-- Dysfunctional families abound where the “me first” mentality exists

Our service to the Lord, His church and our families is greatly hindered by the “me first” mentality, and is detrimental to our souls and those around us. How much better, for us to learn and practice the “others first” principle. This principle was taught and exemplified Christ when he came to this earth because He put others first - 2 Co 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”; Mt 20:28 “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."’ We are called upon to adorn the same mind or attitude - Ph 2:3-8 “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” We are to do nothing through selfish ambition or conceit. We are to esteem others better than ourselves. We are to look out for the interests of others. -- Jesus exemplified the principle of “others first” that He desires in us as well.

This principle was exemplified by the Macedonians. Note their great liberality despite their own poverty - 2 Co 8:1-4 “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints--.” Note why they were able to be so gracious in thinking of others first - 2 Co 8:5 “and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.” They first gave of themselves to the Lord, then to others! The mentality of “Lord first” instead of “me first” enabled them to put “others first”. Their liberality continued in supporting Paul to preach the gospel – see Ph 4:10-18. Putting God and others first ensured that their needs would be met - Ph 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” -- The Macedonians exemplified the true value of putting “others first”.

Do we have the “me first” mentality...? If we do, we cannot be Jesus’ disciples. If we do, the church and our own spiritual lives will suffer. Do we want to be rid of the “me first” mentality...? The “me first” mentality will be destroyed when we adopt the “others first” principle. The “others first” principle will be developed as we make “the kingdom of God first” - Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” When we truly put the kingdom of God and others before ourselves, then the Lord will see to it that we have the things that we need...! – see Mt 6:30-33; Ph 4:19.