After Nelson Mandela’s death at the end of 2013, many stories surfaced of his genuine concern for others. In 1950s Apartheid South Africa, Mandela once saw a white woman standing beside her broken car in Johannesburg. Approaching her, he offered help and was able to fix the car.
When the grateful woman offered to pay him, he said, “Oh no, that’s not necessary.” “But why else would you, a black man, have done that for me if you didn’t want money?” she asked. “Because you were stranded at the side of the road,” he replied. This same man went on to become the first democratically elected president of the country in 1994.
In this season of giving, most of us are more generous and outward-focused than we might ordinarily be. The apostle Paul applauded the church in Philippi from his prison cell and thanked them for their generosity (Philippians 4:15-18), but he also warned them against wrong motives (Philippians 2:3-4). His words remind us not to be selfish, urge us to be humble, call us to think of others as better than ourselves, and require that we be genuinely interested in them and their needs (Philippians 2:3-4).
The apostle challenged others to have the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ: Though He was God, He gave up His divine privileges, took on the humble position of a slave, and was born a human being. He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. God therefore raised Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11).
He gave His life because we were stranded in sin and death. May we live out His servant heart.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Timothy 3:1-17
More:
Read Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31, Acts 20:35 and see what these Scriptures reveal about how we should treat others.
Next:
How can you truly serve others this Christmas season? How do humility and serving others fit together?
Gary Shultz on December 14, 2014 at 6:48 am
Are we not all thankful and glad that Jesus exceeded all requirements to purchase room for us to share in His glory? At a price we can only imagine, he pressed to pay that price. But wonder of all wonders, it was only but the first step. As the picture of the sheep, He will take us home and has prepared things for us the human mind can not process. Great plans of love lay ahead, what can compare to Christ’s care?
Ruth O'reilly-smith on December 14, 2014 at 11:24 am
The servant King, showing us that the greatest way to lead, is to humbly serve. And, He promises that anyone who believes in Him will do the same works He has done, and even greater (John 14:12). Christ in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Gary Shultz on December 15, 2014 at 6:39 am
Thank you for your faithful responses. May you have a most blessed Christmas.
Winn Collier on December 21, 2014 at 3:08 pm
This year as we’ve prepared for Christmas, I’ve seen an entirely different level of (and joy in) generosity with our two boys. It’s really been a great delight for me.