Read: Philippians 2:3-4
In humility count other more significant than yourselves. It’s amazing how hard that is to do, and how easy it is to think we’re doing it. When we go on a mission trip – and we spend our time helping other people, it’s easy to think that we’re blessing people. But it’s possible to do the exact opposite. If we “help” others in a way that makes them dependent on us – giving ourselves all the power – we’re really helping ourselves as much as we’re helping them.
It’s easy to give people food and get annoyed if they don’t seem to like the food we have to offer (while we throw away something if we don’t like it). It’s easy to go to help children and post pictures of all our great work (and receive accolades for our servant heart). It’s easy to go to serve the poor and think about all the amazing things we’re going to do for them (without considering that they have as much or more to teach us).
This passage calls us to do more than that. Seeing people as more significant than ourselves doesn’t just mean that we are uncomfortable for a time so we can help them be more comfortable. It means seeing them as having as much to offer us (or even more) than we have to offer them. It means seeing them as partners in God’s work of justice. God is working through what you’re doing this week. But God is also working through the people you serve – they have as much to offer God and you as you have to offer them. Are you listening?
Reflection
What have you received from God through the homeowners and the community this week?
Prayer
Holy God, help me to think less of myself and what I do and more of what others can do and what you can do through them. Help me to be mindful of how Christ can speak through others to me.
