Today’s Devotion
Topic: The Interest Of Christ
Text: Philippians 2: 19- 22.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. Amen
Currently, we are becoming more selfish than humanity has ever known. Almost everyone looks into everything to know “what might be in it for them”, before they commit to it.
We have several names for this kind of approach to things. We call it ‘strategic partnership’, ‘strategic positioning’, ‘being smart’, ‘friends with benefit’, ‘convenient partnerships’, ‘contractual marriages’ and so on and so forth.
Much as some of these concepts mentioned above do not necessarily demonstrate selfishness if the parties involved agree to its terms and mutually play along, all of them fall short when compared with the expectation Jesus has for us as far as His interest is concerned.
He is love, and encourages us to love one another so that the world will know we are His. In love, there is sacrifice or giving (remember how John wrote that “God so loved the world that He GAVE”?). Whatever we give out of Love; be it our time, substance, advice, support, friendship etc, is an offering to God and He rewards us for that.
But the moment we become calculative and measure our benefit before demonstrating love to humanity, then we are being selfish, self seeking and conceited. All of which are contrary to the nature of Christ.
Paul felt very blessed to have a son like Timothy who had genuine concern for the interest of the Lord’s people. He was not selfish at all. THE INTEREST OF CHRIST WAS MORE HIS PRIORITY THAN ANYTHING.
The Apostle lamented that everyone was out there looking out for their own interest and not that of Jesus Christ, however Timothy had proved himself faithful to the work of the gospel.
Those who seek and live the interest of Christ, engage others for the sake of the gospel; not their personal benefit. They serve and do not wait to be served, they demonstrate the agape love of God even to the most “undeserving”, especially those who cannot pay them back. With every word and act, they draw attention to the JESUS IN THEIR HEARTS SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT KNOW HIM TOO AND BE BLESSED.
God blesses them too. Always lifting them very high so that they may continue to honour Him and demonstrate His love to as many as He brings their way; drawing attention to the work of the cross and the free salvation that awaits all who will believe in Christ Jesus.
Why don’t you make a decision this day to make the Word of God the priority in your life? In obeying its pages, you will realise that you are living out His interest and not for your own selfishness. His reward for your faithfulness is greater than what any man can give you in appreciation for whatever love you showed to them.
There’s nothing strategic about it; simply demonstrating the pure agape love of Christ the same way He demonstrated to us, while we were yet sinners.
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