“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…”
Philippians 2:3 NIV
Imagine what our world would be like if we all lived according to the verse above. It’s a stark contradiction to the world’s ways. The world encourages selfish ambition, vain conceit and putting self over others. But as followers of Jesus Christ, we are instructed to not allow the world’s ways to be our ways.
A moment of reflection
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world…”
Romans 12:2
How’s that going for you?
How’s this going for us collectively as Christians who are to be the hands and feet of Christ?
Are we more focused on elevating self instead of elevating others?
Are we more aligned with the world by being consumed about meeting our own needs and wants? (See Matthew 6:25-34)
Are we forgetting God’s kingdom work of being considerate of others? (See Matthew 25:35-45)
You know what happens when ambition is all about self and fails to bring others along to experience the success, joy, prosperity, health and peace we hope for ourselves? War. Poverty. Homelessness. Joblessness. Crime. Hate. Discrimination. Strife. Fear. Disease. Inequality. Famine. It often ends up being the most vulnerable in our world who feel the brunt of it.
The starting line
What can we do as followers of Christ to ensure we do not conform to this pattern of the world?
Where do we start in order to become less concerned about ourselves and more aware of others and their needs?
The starting line is revealed right after that command to not conform to the pattern of this world in Romans 12:2.
"… but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
To not live as the world lives, first requires a renewal of our mind. Our mind from birth is automatically wired to be contrary to God’s ways because of our hereditary problem of sin. Selfishness, vanity and pride are part of our DNA. Babies and young children don’t need lessons in these character traits and the world provides us plenty of lifetime opportunities to strengthen them as we age over the years. A rewiring is needed for us to shift away from selfish, vain and prideful tendencies.
But rewiring doesn’t just happen on its own nor are we capable of rewiring ourselves. We have been given the word of God, the Holy Scriptures, to guide us on how to live as God’s children.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.
It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
On top of that, we also have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us as the Helper who teaches us the ways of the Father (John 14:26). The evidence of a life truly led by Him is undeniable.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
Together, the word of God along with the help of the Holy Spirit, brings about the renewing of our mind, transforming our lives to one that is sharply juxtaposed to the world’s way of living.
Renewing for true transformation
So how’s it going for you?
What does the evidence reveal?
Are you a vessel of the fruit of the Spirit which considers others and their wellbeing?
Or is your life more in tune with the selfish, vain and inconsiderate ways of the world?
Whichever side we land, a consistent feeding on the word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit, will allow our minds to be continuously renewed and protected from the daily onslaught of the world’s messages that lie to us that its ways are better. In conjunction with the daily prayer below from Psalm 51:10, authentic transformation can happen and lead to a life that recognizes God’s way of humility and selflessness is not just a better option but is the only option for true followers of Jesus Christ.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 ESV
