Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 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 2:1-4 [NIV]
It is all too easy at Christmas time to spend an excessive amount of time thinking of ourselves. Children are encouraged to make a list of what they want for Christmas, parents are keen to spend the day doing exactly what they want to do. Is it any wonder that the Christmas season sees many more relationship problems than other times of the year and that New Year is a busy time for divorce lawyers and marriage guidance counselors? A combination of being cooped up inside the house, excessive alcohol consumption, disputes about presents and what to watch on TV – all these things make for conflict and selfishness is at the heart of many such problems.
Humility is the spiritual gift most needed today:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3 [NIV]
Lord, help us to be humble and not full of pride. Help us to value others above ourselves. Amen.
Dave MacLellan (first published in 2010)
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