Text- Philippians 2;3-4- “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others”
One of the fruit of the Spirit is kindness; as such, the scriptures, as well as the life of Christ inside us, compel us to be kind always rather than minding our own selfish ambitions or being conceited.
You know, I have come to realize that the roots of kindness are two virtues: selflessness and modesty. Every time you act unkindly, there is an underlying selfishness or conceitedness (pride and arrogance).
That is why we are warned in today’s text, with the words of Paul to the Philippian Church, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit”
It’s unkind when on a queue, you push people out of your way, or just cut in line. But at the root of that act of unkindness is either the selfish desire to beat the queue in order to accomplish your aim fast, or so much pride and arrogance that you cannot wait patiently on the queue… or both.
Admittedly, selfishness and conceitedness has become the order of the day in our world. People cut in line without blinking an eye; rain insult and abuses on people when they feel like; laugh at other’s misfortune; and try to assert their superiority by pulling others down, or dragging them in the mud.
These things do not align with scriptural values, and the life of God on our inside. If indeed we are believers, we cannot join the bandwagon of unkindness. God wants us to shed off any form of unkindness we have imbibed from the word.
See, many people may take you for granted because you are always kind; many may in fact take your kindness to mean weakness. Don’t let their opinion ad actions shape your view, affect your disposition, and shift you out of bringing pleasure to God.
Regardless of what anyone would think of you, allow people to go ahead of you in the line (especially aged people, pregnant women, nursing mothers and people with special needs). It’s being kind, not being stupid. It’s the right thing to do.
Furthermore, compliment those around you, and do so with a genuine smile; encourage anyone around you that is doing well, and celebrate the success of those doing better than you; sympathize with other people’s misfortunes, even if they are perceived enemies; be humble and show willingness to serve others.
Yes, somehow life is about “Survival of the fittest”, but the fittest is not necessarily the person who can outdo and/or oust everyone else to climb up the ladder of life. The fittest in the man who wins God’s approval and enjoys His commitment… one of the ways to do this is to be kind; to be kind always!
PRAYER
Lord, please search me and remove any trace of selfishness and conceitedness from me in Jesus Name. From today, I will be kind always to everyone I come in contact with. Help me Lord to hold forth even when it seems difficult in Jesus Name.
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