Value others above yourself

“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 2:3,4 NIV

In an article titled, “Police/Fire: Magnolia runner alerts first responders to car in ditch” published yesterday, Magnolia resident Edward Boudrot described what happened at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday while he was out on his morning run. He said he didn’t get far when he came across a man standing on Hesperus Avenue about two blocks from where he lives. The man had a phone in his hand, but something didn’t appear right to Boudrot. “Someone looks like they need help,” it occurred to Boudrot, who lives on Ocean Highlands. He asked the man, “Is everything OK?” and then he saw the bumper of the man’s car sticking up off to the side of the road. “It was fully immersed in the ditch,” Boudrot said of the vehicle. The car was face down with the bumper parallel to the ground in an 8- to 10-foot ditch in front of 140 Hesperus Ave. near Rafes Chasm Park past a bend in the road. He didn’t notice any skid marks in the roadway, he said. Concerned for the driver’s well-being as he appeared incoherent, Boudrot told him: “Why don’t you sit down and I will get you help.”

And do you know what I love most about this story? Edward was more concerned for the drivers well-being than he was for his own; stopping mid-run when sensing something was wrong to ask the man, “Is everything okay?” and then staying on the scene until help arrived. Edward could have then continued on his way but remained there until the driver was taken to the hospital for treatment. In a world where a growing number of people would have simply passed the man by without a second thought, Edward exemplified what it means to humbly value others above ourselves. Something that has the power to lead the lost to Jesus and should be a characteristic that sets every Christian apart from the world.

So in a society that puts self first, be set apart my friend. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, humbly value others above yourself, and always look to the interests of others above your own. You can be sure doing so will not only change peoples' lives here on earth but will have ripple effects well into eternity.

Heavenly Father, thank You for those people who exemplify what it means to truly value others above self. Help us to be those people Lord by willfully and consistently crucifying our flesh and taking up our crosses daily. Open up the doors for us to be your hands and feet to a world in desperate need of knowing You. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!