The Interests Of Others

What will become the over-arching theme of our lives?  If we look to Christ, we quickly see that His life was and is about others.  He came not to do His Own will, but the will of His Father.  He came to ‘seek and to save that which was lost.’  He came ‘not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’  His present intercession is for others.  His return will be for the sake of others.  In every way, Christ embodies our text for today.  He takes care of what is important for Himself, but does not confine Himself only to that.  Rather, He looks out ‘for the interests of others.’  Christ is a two-fold example.  He does what is wise and good for self-care that is, ‘His own interests,’ and because He does so, He has capacity to ‘look out…for the interests of others.’  We can learn from His example.  We cannot give water to others if we let our own well run dry.  Having said that, it is not wise to become the self-centered guardians of our own interests.  He teaches us by His Own life and we learn to imitate Him.  Today, we look to Christ to make us wise that we may give to each person, both ourselves and others what is good.  This will come to pass as we look to Christ.

Our Holy and Wise God,
we rejoice that Christ is the great pattern for us.
We praise You that as we learn to imitate Him,
we will do what is wise for ourselves
and good for others.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning