Living for Others

Philippians 2:1-11

Romans 12:10 KJV

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

The Bible tells us to live in honor preferring one another.

During a spelling contest many years ago the winner received the prize of a fine new Bible, the contestants were finally reduced to two-Betty, the daughter of a poor, hard-working widow, and Susan, the daughter of a well-to-do farmer. The sympathy of the school was with the poor girl. Finally Susan misspelled a word, and Betty won the coveted prize. Going home, Susan's mother said to her daughter, "Couldn't you have spelled that word?" "Yes, Mother." "Then why didn't you do it?" "Well, you know Betty is quite poor, and she doesn't get many presents. She wanted the Bible very much, and she tried so hard for it that I thought I'd let her have it." "What made you do that, Susie?" "My Sunday school lesson, Mother, which said, 'in honor preferring one another.' So I thought I'd try it, and I'm glad I did." A few days later, Susan received as a birthday present a beautiful Bible, and on the flyleaf was written the text, "In honor preferring one another" (Rom_12:10).

I. It Is a Command of God

(vs. 4)

A. Your Problems Seem to Disappear

30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

The people of the church at Philippi had their share of troubles.

Just like Paul suffered, they suffered too.

He said if there is any consolation…any comfort …let it be that you are being likeminded as I, Being of one accord - Loving each other.

When you do, the troubles fade in comparison to the good you see accomplished.

Lady with Dr. Hyles

How Long Has It Been Since You...

Took the time to go see someone who lives alone?

Wrote a letter to someone who crossed your mind?

Read the Bible to someone too ill to read for themselves?

Encouraged someone who was having a hard time being a Christian?

Prayed earnestly for someone who was faltering?

Tried to have a Bible study with someone you knew was lost?

Told a teenager that you were proud of his efforts to live for the Lord?

Spent more time on your knees praying than on the telephone talking?

Encouraged your pastor instead of telling him you didn’t agree with his decision?

If we get our eyes off of our own problems, and look to the needs of others…our problems may just get easier to handle.

B. Live for Others No Matter Who They Are

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Think of who Christ came to live like!

The sinful, rebellious, evil men.

He knew they would reject Him.

He knew they would crucify the one who came to love and save them.

He knew they meant Him harm from His birth to His death.

But He came anyways.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

During one of (at the time) the Future President McKinley's congressional campaigns he was followed from place to place by a reporter for a paper of the opposite political party. The reporter was one of those shrewd, persistent reporters who are always at work, quick to see an opportunity, and skilled in making the most of it.

While Mr. McKinley was annoyed by the misrepresentation to which he was almost daily subjected, he could not help admiring the man’s skill and tenacity. His admiration, too, was not unmixed with compassion— the reporter was ill, poorly clad, and had an annoying cough.

One night Mr. McKinley took a closed carriage to a nearby town at which it had been announced he would speak. The weather was horrible…raw and cold. He had not gone far when he heard that cough and knew that the reporter was riding with the driver in the exposed seat. McKinley called to the driver to stop so he could get out.

"Get down off that seat, young man," he said.

The reporter obeyed, thinking the time for the major's vengeance had come.

"Here," said Mr. McKinley, taking off his overcoat, "You put on this overcoat and get into the carriage."

"But Major McKinley," said the reporter, "I guess you don't know who I am. I have been with you the whole campaign, giving it to you every time you spoke, and I am going over tonight to rip you to pieces if I can."

"I know," said Mr. McKinley, "but you put on this coat, and get inside and get warm, so that you can do a good job."

A few things happen when you live for others:

You begin to love others.

Your pride begins to dwindle

The more you do it, the easier it becomes

C. To Be Like Christ, You Must Be a Servant

A servant looks to fulfill the needs of the one he serves.

Are you paying attention for the opportunities God is giving you each day to serve those around us?

A secretary on the job is engulfed in problems. Her husband left her; a son is in rebellion; she can barely make ends meet. She cries out for help. We don't hear. A fellow employee is overwhelmed by the complexity of overcoming his chronic drinking problem. He longs for a friend. But we remain deaf to his cries. The owner of the gas station where we've shopped for years has just lost his wife. His eyes echo his loneliness. But we don't see it. A wife would love to share with us the trauma and trials of her day—just to have a listening ear. But our ears are closed. And as the "perfect" ending to such a self-centered day, we hurry to the church building and we sit in church, so that we can feel better about ourselves. We would do good to not just come to church to be a Christian, but be a Christian while we are outside the church as well.

You see we are often so busy that we miss the very ones whom God brings into our path. May God awaken us to the realization that true evangelism is loving the world the way God loves it; allowing our hearts to be broken by the things that break God's heart.

Keep your eyes open around you!

God sends people your way to serve!

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

If we are to be like Christ, we must do what He does!

Beginning in September I am going to preach on Sunday Nights a series of sermons I am entitling Follow His Steps taken from 1 Peter 2:21

1 Peter 2:21 KJV

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

The series will be a verse by verse study of the Gospel of Luke, as we follow each step that Jesus took.

I hope we will watch very carefully as we study to see what we need to do.

II. How Do I Live for Others?

I want to give you three simple and practical things that we can all do to live for others.

A. Ask “Is there anything I can do for you?”

This should always be asked to those in authority to you.

Don’t expect something immediately.

Asking Dr. Owens for something to do.

When given something to do, do it immediately, and thoroughly.

Your testimony is at stake!

Ask unusual people this question.

It’s fun to see their reactions!

B. Ask yourself, “If I were in their place what would I need?”

Then do it.

Don’t always do it in person.

Sometimes anonymously.

“We should get some serious praise for this!”

Don’t let finances stop you, talk to God.

God is more likely to answer a sincere prayer for others, than a selfish one for you.

If they do not thank you, or accept it in the manner that was expected, don’t give up!

C. Living for Others Is Sometimes Just Having Compassion

Once a young couple lost their only child, a beautiful three-year-old daughter, as a result of a freak accident. Unable to justify this tragedy with their concept of a loving God, they went to their minister for help. "Why?" they asked. "It was God's will," the preacher told them. The couple just couldn't accept that the passing of their little daughter could somehow serve God's will, and they sought out another preacher friend. He quoted yards of Scripture, trying to give them comfort, but his verses fell on deaf ears. Finally, the young couple turned to a frail elderly woman in their church. Surely, she could give them a reason for the child's death, but the old woman didn't utter a single word. Instead, she tenderly wrapped her arms around the heartbroken couple's shoulders, and together they cried through the hurt. Sometimes when theological answers are not easy to the complex misfortunes of life, perhaps we just need to hush our babblings. Sometimes when answers aren't easy, our best statement is silent caring.

Make Life a Little Sweeter

O let me shed a little light On someone's path I pray; I'd like to be a messenger Of happiness today!

It may be just a phone call, A smile, or a prayer, Or a long neglected letter Would lift the edge of care.

I want to spread some happiness In what I say or do, Make life a little sweeter For someone else! Don't you?

Lord, let me live from day to day, In such a self-forgetful way, That even when I kneel to pray, My prayer shall be for others.

Others, Lord, yes, others; Let this my motto be. Help me to live for others That I may live like Thee.