what might have been lost.

i was reading a sermon by john piper dealing with selfishness in his series concerning the mind of christ. i hope you enjoy this excerpt. may we learn to take thought of others interests and not just our own. amen.

"Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The word interests is a filler. In the original, it’s open-ended. All that is specified is “your own (something)” or “the other’s (something).” So it could be, “Let each of you look not only to your own financial affairs, or your own property, or your own family, or your own health, or your own reputation, or your own education, or your own success, or your own happiness—don’t just think about that, don’t just have desires about that, don’t just strategize about that, don’t just work toward that; but look to the financial affairs and property and family and health, and reputation, and education, and success, and happiness of others.”

In other words, verse 4 is a way of saying the words of Jesus, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:39). That is, make the good of others the focus of your interest and strategy and work. Find your joy in making others joyful. If you are watching television and your child says, Would you play with me? don’t just think about how tired you are. By an act of gospel-fashioned, Christ-exalting will, put the child’s interests before the pleasures of your relaxation.

One of the keys to this radical way of living is in the second half of verse 3: “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Or as the old King James says, “Let each esteem others better than themselves.” I remember when I was in the ninth grade thinking this was impossible. My sister could read, it seemed, ten times faster than I could. I was simply amazed that she could read an entire Bobbsey Twins novel in one night—about 150 pages. There is no way, I thought, that she could esteem me better than her in reading. But I got A’s in Algebra, and my sister struggled. So there was no way I could esteem her better than I in Algebra.

But I missed the point. The point was not what others are. The point is what you count others to be. And the focus in not on how they read or do math, or any other skill or trait. The focus is: Will you count them as worthy of your help and encouragement? Not are they worthy? But will you count them as worthy? Will I serve my sister? Will I take thought not just for my interests but for hers? Will I encourage her and take the time to help her and build her up. Will I stop shooting buckets in the driveway and show interest in her?"