"Selfish-Ambition and Vain Conceit"

“Selfish Ambition and Vain Conceit”

 

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.

For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.                                       Philippians 2:3, 4, 21

 

We live in a world full of people who function out of SELFISH AMBITION or VAIN CONCEIT.  They are focused solely on themselves, and seek PRAISE and ADORATION for their accomplishments, even if it is at the risk of others.  They pride themselves in the fact that they are self-centered, and self-confident, along with self-conceitedness. 

 

Their main objective is themselves, and they are reluctant to do anything that would be beneficial to anyone else.  Sadly to say, some of this mindset is in our churches today.  The Apostle Paul was addressing this underlying problem in the Church at Philippi.  That is why he advised them to, “Do nothing out of SELFISH AMBITION or VAIN CONCEIT.”  Then Paul goes on to advise them to, “in HUMILITY value others above yourselves, not looking to your OWN interest, but each of you to the interests of the others.”   

 

As TRUE BELIEVERS, we carry the name of “Christian” which means “Christ-like,” but my question is are we really being “Christ-like?”  Jesus was DEFINITELY NOT self-centered, self-confident or self-conceited.  His MAIN FOCUS was on OTHER PEOPLE.  He came to earth, with the FULL KNOWLEDGE of being crucified for PEOPLE who hated Him to the point of putting Him to death.  They tortured Him and denied Him as the Messiah, the Son of God.  Yet to this very day His love for ALL mankind prevails and is offered to ALL who will ACCEPT it.

 

If you PROFESS to be a TRUE BELIEVER, are you willing to SACRIFICE your own interests, in order to SERVE God, and letting His Spirit use you to SERVE others, bringing them into a SALVATION RELATIONSHIP with Him?  The Apostle tells the Church at Philippi that, “Everyone looks out for their own interests, NOT those of Jesus Christ.”  Paul was sending Timothy to Philippi, to serve the Church, Timothy was an extraordinary young man, with the utmost, godly characteristics of anyone Paul had come in contact with.  Timothy’s life is an EXCELLENT example for EVERY child of God.  He was WILLING to go to SERVE his Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

It is NOT easy to SERVE God in a world of self-seekers.  Are we willing to SACRIFICE our time and interests for the work of Jesus Christ?  SELF-CENTEREDNESS, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND SELF CONCEITEDNESS are sins and they keep us from doing what God intends for us to do.  We must reevaluate our service to Him, become MORE CHRIST-LIKE, in order to rightly carry the name of “CHRISTIAN.” 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are probably a “self-seeker”  who is only interested in yourself, and you are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, unless you come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and in HUMILITY serve the Lord by serving others, leading them to SALVATION.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!