“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4
Humans have a built in tendency to look out for themselves. That
was not true at creation, it is one of the results that sin produced.
Self-centeredness and pride were at the heart of Satan’s original sin,
and they are what he desires us to mimic just as he tempted Eve in Eden (God is holding out on you. Take control!). When man sinned he became self-centered. The pride of life is part of our nature. Paul tells Timothy that this evil will become much worse in the last days. “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves.” We see test in the narcissism of today’s culture. We live in the age where this sin that Paul warns the Philippians will destroy the unity within the church abounds. That means we will be tempted also.
Let each of you Paul uses a word that covers every member of the body of Christ. There are no exceptions, each member is to take heed to this sin.
Look The word look means to regard attentively, take heed, beware or consider. Paul tells us to focus on this carefully and make it a priority in our lives. This is the key word in this verse for it directs our attention. He tells us to be alert to see others’ needs but then to be prepared to do something about them.
Not only to his own interests Paul describes the two outlooks we can have. The first is our own interests. The word ”only” indicates we are not to neglect our responsibilities. We are responsible for own affairs, to keep ourselves spiritually strong, to be good stewards and to provide for our household.. Paul is not suggesting we ignore the responsibilities God has given us.
But also Paul indicates that as we take care of our own needs that should not be our sole concern.
To the interests of others Here we see the second outlook. Unity requires believers support other believers. That does not mean to be “busybodies” in other affairs, offer unsolicited advice or be gossips about others’ business. Instead we are to stand along side others in prayer for their spiritual needs as we learn of them. We are to physically care for the widows and orphans and in special times of crisis (or as the spirit leads us), to help with others’ temporal needs. Read Proverbs 29:7
What can we learn? This instruction started when Paul discussed the attacks of Satan on the church. Satan tries to destroy the church through persecution and suffering. Satan knows unity is pleasing to God (“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”). If it pleases God Satan wants to destroy it. So he wants believers to ignore the needs of others especially in the times of persecution. If he succeeds in tempting believers to looks out for themselves to the exclusion of others it breeds selfishness within the body of believers. We see an example of that in Lot. Abrahm was concerned about the strife and conflict with Lot. When they separated he gave Lot first choice of the land. Lot looked at the greenness of the land and chose the best for himself. As a result his self-centeredness led him toward Sodom where he eventually lost all his earthly possessions, his reputation and his wife. Abraham trusted God and cared for the needs of Lot over himself. Did he lose out? At the time it looked like it but God blessed him and kept him and his family from the sins of Sodom. We never lose when we obey God’s word which
Paul reminds us that means loving our neighbor as ourselves and especially those who are in the household of faith..