Consider the Needs of Others

Introduction

Flight attendant instructions, “Put on your own mask before helping the person next to you with their mask.” That’s what we need to do in that context. But, that’s not how we were designed live in every context of our lives.

Society tells us to, “Put yourself first.” Self-care is one of the biggest industries in the U.S. today. The most important thing in life is your self-actualization. Therefore, the highest value in life is your personal freedom—it’s your own personal autonomy to do whatever you want, to be whatever you want, to cast aside any limitation on your desires, your pursuits, and your self.

But Christina Bieber Lake, author of Prophets of the Posthuman, challenges the idea that the good life is found in personal autonomy. “If I value my personal freedom highest, what happens to my neighbor? If personal autonomy is the highest good, we are more likely to see other people as things to be used for our own gain, rather than persons who deserve to be cared for or even to be loved. Ethics that begins with one’s personal freedom, instead of one’s personal responsibility to the other, is doomed to fail.”

Here’s how Jesus taught this in Matthew 20:25-28.

Matthew 20:25–28 ESV

25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

As Christians, following in Jesus’s footsteps, we do not treat people like slaves and use them to our own ends but we live each day looking for opportunities to serve others. Is that how you live?

This is a hard teaching from Jesus. But we’re his disciples, which means we’ve committed to follow it. How do we consider the needs of others like Jesus did? How do we serve others like Christ? Paul fleshes Jesus’s teaching out with some practical teaching in Philippians 2:1-11.

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Body

To consider the needs of other like Jesus did, we must recognize the need for unity (Phil 2:1-2). To serve others like Christ, we need to see the value of being united.

Philippians 2:1–2 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Exposition

“complete my joy… ” See how important unity is?

Unity is not uniformity.

Illustration: Paul David Tripp in his book, Marriage, makes the profound observation that not only is unity not uniformity but unity actually requires difference and love.

Love – Difference = Uniformity

Difference – Love = Division

Love + Difference = Unity

Application: I love you in spite of our differences. Unity is where diversity meets love… We must consider the needs of others—not just those whose interests align with our own but those whose interests may be different.

To consider the needs of others like Jesus did, we must cultivate humility (Phil 2:3-4). To serve others like Jesus did, we need meekness.

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Exposition

What is humility? “A really humble man… will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity).

Following Jesus is not a spiritual self-help program.

Illustration: Do you know how to tell if you struggle with pride or lack humility? How easily offended are you?

Application: 5 Practical Ways to Cultivate Humility from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Understand that you are a sinner and are only here because of God’s grace.

Hold your tongue and refuse to speak uncharitably about someone else.

Refuse to consider your time so valuable that you cannot be interrupted to help with unexpected needs.

Pray for the people who annoy you.

Listen long and patiently so that you understand another’s actual need (which may not necessarily be what they’re saying it is).

To consider the needs of others like Jesus did, we must follow his example (Phil 2:5-8). To serve others like Christ, we need to live how Jesus lived.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Exposition

Look at verse 5… If you belong to Jesus, this mindset is already yours in Christ. You just need to tap into it.

Look at verses 6-8… “Jesus was God—yet he humbled himself, not once but repeatedly, in an ever-descending sequence; from God to man; from man to slave; from obedient slave to death—a humiliating death on a shameful Roman cross. In this, Jesus became a model for his followers to imitate” (Andreas Kostenberger, The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown).

Illustration: If you want to see a modern-day example of this, just look at a mom.

Conclusion

The only way that any of this can happen is to find freedom in Christ, not personal autonomy. Jesus sets us free from the tyranny of self (Phil 2:8-11).

Philippians 2:8–11 ESV

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.