Making the Interests of Christ Our Own
They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy's worth you know. (Phil. 2:21-22a)
Phil. 2:1-22 and 3:8; Matt. 13:22; Luke 18:29-30; Col. 3:2; II Tim. 4:10
What Is God Saying?
Timothy appears to have been the most effective and the most trusted of Paul's associates. He had a winsome personality and the wise-beyond-his-years ability to help in the spiritual care and nurture of the new church in Philippi. In this letter, which sings of joy and the warmth of friendship, there is a note of sadness: ‘They all look after their own interests.’ Was it a wave of discouragement fostered by the hardships of imprisonment? Is that why he uses this strong language, ‘All look after their own interests’?
Nevertheless, Timothy was a light in the darkness of Paul's prison life. He must go with this letter to Philippi. The church he loved so much must receive this letter from the hands of a person he loved and trusted. Others may be qualified to go, but are unable to do so. Still others might be able to go, but are not qualified. The truth is that being absorbed in our agenda and looking after our interests can disqualify us from being usable servants of our loving and self-giving Lord.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Timothy's youthful enthusiasm and single-minded loyalty to Jesus Christ demonstrate a maturity that we, regardless of our chronological age, should aspire to. ‘Let each of you look not only to his own interests’ (2:4) suggests that we look after our interests, but not exclusively. Then comes this clear exhortation, ‘The attitude you should have is the one that Jesus had’ (vs. 5, GNB). His only interest was doing the will of God. He emptied himself and made himself nothing (2:7). His highest interest was loving us into heaven, even if it meant the way of the cross (2:8).
Pray With Me
O Lord, I want a heart like Timothy's heart to serve Christ before self, a heart to lift up Christ with fearless disregard for my position or prestige, a heart that points others to life. My identity in you, who are the same yesterday, today, and forever, outlasts the fickle praise of men. As Christ lives, so will I. As Christ loves, so will I. As Christ died, so did I, crucified with him. As he rose from the dead in resurrection power and glory, so I will rise each day to the joy of victory that has been won—to the realization that in him and with him I am free. I would bring all my interests so in line with the interests of Jesus Christ that when I am looking after one, I am looking after the other.
In the name of Him who has been highly exalted and given a name which is above every name, even Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Prayer is the time when we look after our own interests. God commands it and commends it, but prayer has wings when we pray about the interests of others. Joy in prayer, power in prayer, and results in prayer come when (like Timothy) we look after the interests of Christ and the welfare of others.
