"Do NOTHING out out selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3
Sometimes I meet people who completely overwhelm me by their kindness. They are totally concerned with other people and seemingly don't give a thought about themselves. I just read the biography of a guy called Eric Liddel today, and he was one such person. Someone wrote of him, "He was not particularly clever and not conspicuously able, but he was good. He wasn't a great leader or an inspired thinker, but he knew what he ought to do and did it." His whole life was focused on living out that very attitude of humility and considering others as better than himself. And it made an impact on so many lives!
The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It never sounds that attractive to be described as someone who is kind or good or gentle. In fact, it can sound pretty dull and soft and weak. But actually, living out these characteristics is probably one of the hardest and most powerful parts of being a Christian. They are the mark of a Christian! I sometimes find myself aiming for something other than this description, but this is really what my life should be about.
So, having thought about all this stuff, I started thinking about how I could live it more and not just know it. But thinking about being patient is totally different to actually being patient when you are stuck in a massive queue or being kind when you have a million other things on your mind. And I also realised that the challenge is to have pure motives: these things are not done to be seen and praised. I am not trying to please people, but to serve them and love them. And I realised that I have a long way to go yet.
Eric Liddel found the key- he spent time alone with God every morning, in His prescence, and that set him up to live the rest of the day in the manner that he always did, with love and concern and regard for others. This is not something that can be done alone! Everything about us is 'me' first, but this whole attitude is totally different to that. I also realised that perhaps a bit of effort is required on our part too- not just sitting back and letting God work through us. Thinking through the day to come- what qualities are you likely to need? Joy? Patience? Kindness? And how can you live them out? It is the way that in every single little thing we should sacrifice our own needs and desires to those of others.
Is this what it means to be Christ-like?
