In the Giving

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Philippians 2:2-4

This verse in Philippians seems counter cultural when you consider the low standard of values of the world we live in. The world says, “Look out for number one,” while God’s Word says, “Don’t be selfish.” Society pressures us to do things so that we are socially accepted, but the Word of God says instead, “Don’t try to impress others.” In fact, the scripture urges us to take things one step further by thinking of others as better than ourselves. “Don’t just look out for your own interests,” the writer of Philippians urges, “but take an interest in others too.”

What is interesting about this concept of putting others above yourself is that it is mutually beneficial. According to Psychology Today, Columbia University conducted a study which revealed that when helping others navigate their stressful situations, we are actually benefiting our own emotional well-being. Although we should not consider it as motivation to help others, there are benefits that are returned to us when we do. Saint Francis of Assisi once said, “For it is in the giving that we receive.”