“Humility is necessary for love. We simply cannot love pridefully. How we think about ourselves and others determines whether we are able to love people well. . . . If learning to love God and others well has not been your highest priority, now is a good time to put it at the top of your list. Without love, everything we accomplish is worthless.”- Chip Ingram
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interest of others.”- Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
In Chapter 2 (“How to Become a More Loving Person”) of I Choose Love, Chip Ingram underscores what happens if we fail to place love at the center of our lives. When that occurs, our lives won’t go in the direction God intends. Because love is at the heart of God’s nature. As a result, He delights in filling His people with it.
Consequently, in Philippians 2:3-4, the apostle Paul provides a blueprint for loving well. Above all, in the text Paul outlines three practical steps to help us reshape our attitudes to love people. Pastor Ingram begins his discussion of the first step today.
Step 1: Declare war on selfishness. Pastor Ingram describes this step as radical. He finds phrasing this in such strong, aggressive terms necessary. Because our self-centeredness requires more than a mere suggestion or mild rebuke to disappear. Since it’s relentless, we need to be decisive and relentless in dealing with it.
Above all, Chip views selfishness as best defined by four words: I want my way. An ambitious, competitive, self-serving approach to life all of us demonstrate at times. And in a variety of ways — often without recognizing it.
In conclusion, Chip observes, even if we become more selfless over time, we still retain some aspects of our “me first” mindset. We just get more sophisticated in expressing it!
Today’s question: What Bible verses help develop a humble spirit? Please share.
Coming Monday: the May Short Meditation, “A sun without a sphere”
Tomorrow’s blog: An accurate view of yourself”