less of me

Me me me me me me me me me me me me me.....

Oh, am I talking about ME too much? It's only because your prayer request, experience, example, story, issue, situation... it just reminded ME about something that once happened to ME. So let's just talk about ME, shall we? Let's forget what you said and talk about how I feel... what I've experienced... what we can do to get ME noticed... MY feelings... MY personal gain... MY promotion... Me Me Me Me Me MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!......

Ugh! How would you feel if you ran into a person that talked like this? Annoyed? Exhausted? (Did I mention, ANNOYED?) As we continue to live taking inventory regarding our spiritual maturity and our commitment to grow closer to God, I'd also like to talk about how we, as Christian women, relate to one another within the body of Christ. In particular, I'd like to talk about selfish ambition and the need to always be noticed.

The sample conversation above is clearly an over-the-top example, however, the sad truth is that many Christian women don't realize how selfish they have become. Many have fallen into the trap of only thinking about the world that revolves around their lives... their families... their wishes. They forget the importance of a meek and quiet spirit, and fail to reign in their tongue and selfish pride - even during times of prayer and worship. I frequently find myself cringe when a believer cries out in desperation for united church prayer and support only to be trampled upon by a conceited "me" carnivore who does everything in their power to turn the attention away from the person who is vulnerably laying their requests on the altar, and instead, places all focus onto their own story, experience and desire. Is this how we are to love and encourage one another? Absolutely not!

We are told in Philippians 2, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4)

Let me be clear... I am not suggesting that you should not care about your own issues. Nor am I suggesting that you refrain from sharing your experiences with one another. But timing and sensitivity are key. The mindset offered in Philippians instructs us to consider others better than our own selves. This is the same sacrificial mindset Jesus had when He died on the cross for our benefit. His is the example we are to follow in considering one another's eternal welfare and relationship with our Heavenly Father. By looking at the life of Christ, we see how to love God and each other with all our heart.

As the body of Christ, we are to die to individual self promotion and recognition and focus our efforts only on Jesus. As we look to follow His example, we are more easily able to become LESS so that HE can become MORE. With Him, we can move past the ME-syndrome common to this world and strengthen each other in love as we face earthly trials together - as His people. We are to encourage one another as we persevere together as His church.

Ladies, consider how you relate with others and what motivates your words? Do you speak only to seek attention and personal gain? Or are you careful to humbly put aside your need to be noticed so that you can support and pray for others while praising and glorifying the Name of Jesus? Let's face it, HE is the only One we should be pointing our attention to anyway!

I encourage each DW to ask God to remove selfishness from our minds and dispose us to react to each other in a godly manner. Let us sacrifice our lives for the sake of the cross and give ourselves to one another in brotherly (sisterly) love. We are His church. We are His people. Let us pray and encourage each other and leave center stage to the only ONE worthy of praise.

Thank you, Jesus, for showing us how to love each other.
More more more of You, Precious Lord!!!

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson