Sorry, tangent. Back to Piper.
He's talking about Phil. chapter 2:
"Look at verse 4: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The word interests is a filler. In the original, it’s open-ended. All that is specified is “your own (something)” or “the other’s (something).” So it could be, “Let each of you look not only to your own financial affairs, or your own property, or your own family, or your own health, or your own reputation, or your own education, or your own success, or your own happiness—don’t just think about that, don’t just have desires about that, don’t just strategize about that, don’t just work toward that; but look to the financial affairs and property and family and health, and reputation, and education, and success, and happiness of others.”
In other words, verse 4 is a way of saying the words of Jesus, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:39). That is, make the good of others the focus of your interest and strategy and work. Find your joy in making others joyful. If you are watching television and your child says, Would you play with me? don’t just think about how tired you are. By an act of gospel-fashioned, Christ-exalting will, put the child’s interests before the pleasures of your relaxation."
(can't get the italics to turn off, please bear with me)
I am trying desparately to discern what God wants me to do with my life. It has occurred to me recently that in order to accomplish this, I need to hear God. In order to hear God, I need to be obedient to God. I have committed to the guys I study with to be more disciplined and obedient in the areas of: Bible Study, Prayer, Family Spiritual Leadership, and Being Others-Centered. This sermon so perfectly illustrates God's will for our interaction with those around us. I pray that I can model my life and behavior after this example.
We live such selfish lives, so wrapped up in what we want. I'd refer you to an ealier post, but upon rereading that post, I find it to be rather dark and cynical, and I may delete it shortly. But even in trying to figure out what I'm supposed to make my career doing, have I asked Michelle what she wants out of life as far as that's concerned? No, I've spent countless hours thinking about all the possible careers and how they would shape MY life. I need to be less selfish, with my time and my gifts, and love other people better. Christ has given me a complete and comprehensive example of how to do that, I'll I have to do is copy Him. In school, copying people was the easy way out of doing something, and it was wrong. In loving people, copying Christ is way easier than trying to figure it out on my own, and it's the RIGHT thing to do. Seems so obvious.
How does this relate to you, the average blog reader (well, the average friend/family member of mine, since not THAT many people care what I have to say...yet)? If there is anything I can do for you, or pray for you about, please please let me know. Please help me be obedient by allowing me to excercise others-centeredness.
Also, listen to that Piper sermon, the whole thing. It's not long, but it is impactful. I'm sure I'll have listened to it a few more times before the end of the week, and the next sermon posted.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2008/3204_The_Mind_of_Christ_Looking_Out_for_the_Interests_of_Others/
Or, if you'd like, I have it on my ipod and I'd be happy to listen to it with you. If I can get enough people listening to sermons with me, perhaps I can justify upgrading my ipod to an ipod touch...
I'm sure there's much much more to be said about this topic, but that will have to wait for another post. Seems this one got rather out of control.
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