Consumers or Christ Followers?
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, (Rom 15:1-3a)
This incredible piece of art sums up the two extremes of our heart’s dispositions. Will we serve or look to be served? Will we be a taker, getter or giver? Will we be a consumer or a Christ follower?
I face these questions internally on a daily basis. My old sinful self-centered heart pattern is to look for others to serve me, to seek my own will above that of others and to get frustrated or irritated by those who obstruct my plan to serve my own interests or have that plan served by others…
Are you like me?
Think about what you get most frustrated about? On reflection you’ll probably find that it’s often centered around moments when your plans are being frustrated or obstructed by circumstances or people… What caused this frustration? What I wanted, what I wanted to take or get in some situation was hindered.
Paul points us to Christ though, who did not live to please Himself but laid His life down as a sacrifice for us. He urges us to be like Christ, to follow His example by not living to please ourselves but to serve others for their benefit and their upbuilding.
Today – start by meditating for even just a few moments on Jesus and how He lived, died & rose agin to serve you! Thank Him, praise Him. Then choose today to be like Jesus, flowing out from this heart of thanks, seek to serve others rather than being served and see what God will do through you.
Two words that matter 