As I was reading chapter 2 this week, verse 3 kept jumping out at me. The apostle Paul writes, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

The weight of this command is found in the verses following where Paul challenges believers to be like Jesus in that He forwent the privileges of heaven to becomes a servant who was obedient even to the point of death. This worked out well, but don’t be mistaken… the suffering wasn’t the purpose, it was the means by which the purpose would be fulfilled… people would come to glorify God (vs11).

So it is when we must put away rivalry and conceit and serve others. We must not see ourselves as in competition with other believers or even better than others. We should put the needs of others ahead of our own… We play for the same team.

What can you do today to put the needs of others ahead of your own?

Do you struggle with an argumentative spirit and feel like you always need to win or get the last word in? How does that effect your ability to put others ahead of yourself?