Philippians 2:1-4
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Our temptations tend to be selfish in nature. They are about getting what we want. This is what makes it easy to objectify the other person, for they become just an object to satisfy our desires. When I fantasize about having sex with someone else, I am not thinking about the cares and struggles of that other person, I am just thinking about how good I would feel if I was with them, and when the fantasizing is over I forget about them until my next fantasy. But if we can truly care about the other person, we will not objectify them. Instead true love would demand that we pray for them and bless them. As Paul says, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (verse 3-4).
Lord, I confess to often being self-centered in how I view and use others. Help me to see others with Your eyes, and to love as You love.
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Our temptations tend to be selfish in nature. They are about getting what we want. This is what makes it easy to objectify the other person, for they become just an object to satisfy our desires. When I fantasize about having sex with someone else, I am not thinking about the cares and struggles of that other person, I am just thinking about how good I would feel if I was with them, and when the fantasizing is over I forget about them until my next fantasy. But if we can truly care about the other person, we will not objectify them. Instead true love would demand that we pray for them and bless them. As Paul says, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (verse 3-4).
Lord, I confess to often being self-centered in how I view and use others. Help me to see others with Your eyes, and to love as You love.