It’s not about you!

That’s a hard truth in a nation where industry experts say the average cell phone user takes 450 self-portraits (selfies) each year. Author David Faust wrote, “In the past,” a friend pointed out recently, “when people were outside enjoying nature, they photographed the scenery and took pictures of beaches, mountains, and forests. Now, we turn the camera the other direction and take pictures of ourselves.” We place ourselves at the center of every scene; it’s all about us.

Maybe that’s not such a big deal in the realm of photography, but when it comes to lifestyle, that’s not what God desires. In Philippians 2:3 (NIV), the Apostle Paul instructs, “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.” While we’re focusing on fulfilling our dreams, living life and enjoying the admiration of others, God wants us to get over ourselves and focus on helping others achieve their dreams and live fulfilling lives of their own.

To make sure we understood that God is serious about this, Paul continues in Philippians 2:5-8 to tell us that we’re supposed to imitate the humility of Jesus himself: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death– even death on a cross!”

Unselfish living can be expensive; It cost Jesus’ life!

In his book, 7 Men and the Secret of Their Greatness, Eric Metaxas tells a fascinating story about General George Washington. In 1783, as the Revolutionary War was drawing to a close, the Continental Army was in an ugly mood; Congress had, too often, failed to live up to the promises it made to the soldiers. Rations were short and pay was long overdue. Many in the Continental Army urged Washington to seize power and become King George I.

Washington’s men were camped in Newburgh, NY. An anonymous letter circulated through the camp, suggesting that if pay was not forthcoming, the Army should refuse to fight (the peace treaty wouldn’t be signed for another 6 months), and if a peace treaty was signed, then the Army should refuse to disband, a clear threat to the Congress in Philadelphia. General Washington learned of the plan and interrupted an officers’ meeting at noon on March 16, 1783. Washington chastised the officers for their selfish plans and pleaded with them to be patient, appealing to their honor and love for their country. The Army’s rebellion was quelled because, given the opportunity to be King, Washington passed it up.

Doesn’t sound like many of today’s politicians, does it?

Lutheran Pastor and World War II hero Detrich Bonhoeffer suggested that humility might be measured by one’s reaction to interruptions. After all, each person possesses their own goals, their own agenda. How we respond when others’ needs claim the time and energy we’ve allotted for our own projects and interests points to whether we live selfishly or unselfishly.

Bonhoeffer wrote: “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves, perhaps — reading the Bible … it is part of the discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can perform a service and we do not assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God.”

Let’s make it practical. When you really want to see the game, and your next-door neighbor needs help moving a refrigerator, what will you do? When your day is packed full and that elderly lady from church calls “just to chat,” will you make time to ease her loneliness? When speaking the truth might cause conflict and you just want to enjoy the peace, will you tell the truth anyway? When unselfish living will cost you time, money, or sweat, what choice will you make?