Toy Stories: Ken — Provider vs. Performer - Monday
Today’s Verse
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (ESV)
I can remember the first time I made a selfish decision. And like many selfish decisions, it involved four-year-old me and some freshly made chocolate chip cookies. I remember it like it was yesterday…
My mom told my older sister, my younger brother, and me that she had just made some chocolate chip cookies, and we were each allowed to have one. My sister immediately got up and got her cookie, followed closely by me. My younger brother stayed behind. Suddenly, I found myself alone in a room with two cookies on a plate before me. One belonged to me, one did not.
I toyed over my options for a minute, but inevitably gave in to my selfish ambition and took not only the cookie made for me, but also the cookie made for my brother.
I could keep going and tell you the rest of the story. I could tell you about how I ran away from home because I was afraid of the consequences of my actions. I could also tell you about countless decisions I made due to my selfish ambition later on.
Because while the decision I made at age four to eat my brother’s cookie was the first decision I made in selfish ambition (that I recall), it was certainly not the last.
I think you’ll relate to this, but I find myself face-to-face with two proverbial cookies on a plate before me on a daily basis. We have the option to live out of selfish ambition or selfless ambition every single day. One cookie, or two.
In Philippians 2:3, Paul encourages followers of Jesus to make the decision to live in selfless ambition every single day. To do nothing out of selfish ambition. But why?
Here’s my best guess… Paul encouraged followers of Jesus to do nothing out of selfish ambition, not because it makes us “better people”, but because it’s what Jesus did.
Jesus—the King over all, and the only one worthy of it all—chose to give it all up, to live as a servant, and to live out of selfless ambition. And Jesus is the One we are following.
APPLICATION
To follow Jesus means we must follow His example. We must live as He lived. We must follow the example of selfless ambition that Jesus demonstrated for us. This week, look out for ways you can serve others around you in an effort to put others above yourself. Maybe it’s holding a door open a little longer, handling dinner for your family, or messaging a friend to see how you can pray for them (and then follow through).
PRAYER
Jesus, thank you for your selfless ambition. Thank you for giving up your life, that I may find life in you. Please help me to live in that same selflessness that you demonstrated. Give me the strength and determination to do nothing out of selfish ambition. Amen.