NOV.20, 2013
Genuine
Concern
Read: Philippians
2:1-5
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others. —Philippians
2:4
On
the first night at family camp, the camp director informed the families of the
schedule for the week. When finished, he asked if anyone else had anything to
say. A young girl stood up and made a passionate appeal for help. She shared
about her little brother—a boy with special needs—and how he could be a
challenge to care for. She talked about how tiring this was for her family, and
she asked everyone there to help them keep an eye on him during the week. It
was an appeal born out of genuine concern for her brother and her parents. As
the week went on, it was great to see people pitching in to help this family.
Her
appeal was a gentle reminder of how easily we can all get wrapped up in our own
world, life, and problems—to the point that we fail to see the needs of others.
Here’s how Paul described our responsibility: “Let each of you look out not
only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4).
The next verse reminds us that this is part of the example of Christ: “Let this
mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Our
caring displays a Christlike concern for people who are hurting. May we rest in
God’s grace, trusting Him to enable us to serve others in their seasons of
need.
Lord, open my eyes to the hurts, needs, and struggles
of a world that is so desperately in need of Your love.
Help me to be Your instrument to inject
that love into hurting lives.
Nothing costs as much as caring—except not caring.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
