Love does not seek its own

We have discussed this topic in previous posts yet it bears repeating. Love does not seek its own. The command in the scriptures is quite clear. We are commanded to consider the needs and interests of others before our.

“Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” (1 Corinthians 10:24)

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

This was certainly the kind of life lived by Jesus. Jesus lived His life not for Himself but for those whom He came to server. Speaking of Himself, Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Jesus did not gain personally from His ministry on the Earth, in fact it cost Him everything. Jesus sacrificed not only His life for us but also His relationship with the Father when, for a brief but excruciating moment, His Father turned away from Him while He hung on the cross. Jesus did not have to die for us but He chose to. What could motivate the pure and spotless Son of God to lay His life down for us? The writer of Hebrews tells us that it was, “for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) His joy was seeing many sons and daughters brought into glory though His sacrifice. Jesus’ life of sacrifice is a clear demonstration of the love of God for us and for the whole world.

While, in previous posts, we have looked at some ways we can seek our own, there is one more that is worth mentioning. Speaking of Timothy, Paul says, “But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:19-21) With the early expansion of the church, many went out as ministers of the Gospel, yet Paul observed that, for many of them, their motives were not pure. They did not go out seeking to advance the Kingdom of God and the interests of Jesus Christ, rather they went out seeking to satisfy their own interests. They were motivated more by their own desires and interests than those of Jesus. In writing to the church at Galatia, Paul warns them of some who had come to “minister” in their midst. “They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.” (Galatians 4:17) They did not come to help the believers draw closer to Christ but rather to make a name for themselves. They wanted the love and affection of the believers for themselves rather than for Christ.

Timothy was one of the exceptions. Timothy had no hidden agendas. Timothy’s ministry and care for the Philippians was not a guise to gain an advantage over them. Timothy cared for them with the love and care of Jesus. His selfless sacrifice on the behalf of the Philippian church was a testimony to the love of Christ that dwelt within him. Timothy provides a standard by which we can judge our own ministry and service.

Living for others is not only the way of love but it is also the way of living an abundant life. Jesus taught us, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” (John 12:24-25) If we want to live life and live it well, if we want to show the love of Christ to all around us, then we must first die to ourselves. We must die and burry our life into the kingdom of God. Only then will it sprout and grow and yield the fruit of the Spirit which is, above all else, Love.

David Robison