– Serving others before serving yourself –
When you put the needs and well being of others before yourself you are showing love in a way that God has showed love to you. The way that we grow in our trust and faith in God is by taking steps of faith. By putting others before you can actually practice trusting that God will take care of your needs.
It is important that you take care of your needs – eating, sleeping, getting the time with God you need. But it is easy for most people do take care of themselves and forget to care for others too. Great leaders show humility by caring for others and doing their best to meet their needs. God loves those other people just as much as you and they will see God’s love when you care for them in this way.
“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 interests of the others.“ – Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
Questions
- Who is someone you know that puts others before themselves?
- How does that person make you feel?
- Why is it hard to put others before you?
- How have some heroes (in the Bible or other places) put others before themselves?
- Did those actions help them to be heroic?
- What are some ways you can start serving others before yourself?
- What is one way you will put others before you this week?