HOW TO ESTEEM OTHERS MORE THAN SELF

Good morning. While reading the scriptures associated with this article, I began to think about how so many of us gloat when someone get separated because they are not a sheep. Then the Holy Spirit said, that shouldn’t be. We shouldn’t gloat because someone is going to hell because of their wrong doings. It should hurt us. The Bible tells us apart of love is to not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoice in truth. It should be our desire for all to come to repentance, as the Lord do. The Lord tells us in Luke 19:13 to occupy till He comes. I looked up “occupy” in the Greek Strong’s Concordance and it means to carry on a business of a boss as it was him. In this case, the Lord is saying to do as He did. Jesus didn’t rejoice over His enemies going to hell. He prayed for them even while He was dying on the cross. He ate and ministered to sinners. He healed sinners. He forgave them. Too many take the fact the attend church every week, have a title/position in church or work, or have money and a lot of things and feel they are better than others. When that isn’t the case. Jesus died for all of us; not just for those who are good or doing good. He died for the murderer, the thief, the rapist, the molester, the adulterer, the homosexual, etc. He died for us all. And if we can receive Him (NO MATTER WHAT WE’VE DONE) then we have an awesome opportunity to be reconciled back to God and live with Him in His Kingdom. It’s not for me or anyone to say who can live or die; Who can go to Heaven or hell. None of us should want anyone to go to hell. Jesus didn’t. It’s His desire for none to perish (2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 18:19). Wouldn’t it be ashamed we did all these good works on the earth and think we are going to Heaven. But when we come to the face of Jesus and expect to get in, but instead He says I know you not you that work iniquity (Matthew 7:21-23). He says that because we think we’re getting into Heaven based on our works and merits instead of what He did. Jesus is the ONLY reason we are made righteous.

1 Corinthians 8:11-12; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

HOW TO ESTEEM OTHERS MORE THAN SELF – Andrew Wommack Ministries

Matthew 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

MATTHEW 25:32-46

When a kind act was done to someone in need, Jesus said it was done unto Him. The Lord deeply feels our hurts. When someone is neglected, Jesus says He is also being neglected. We have a high priest who is touched by the feelings of our infirmities (Heb. 4:15). When we hurt, He hurts. When we are blessed, He is blessed. The God of the universe is intricately involved with every detail of our lives.

How can we esteem others better than ourselves when really we think we are better than others? Some people are better athletes than others. Some are better businessmen than others. Some are better speakers than others, and so forth.

First, we need to recognize that our accomplishments don’t make us better than others. There is a difference between what we do and who we are. Better performance does not make a better person. A person’s character can be severely wanting even though his performance is good.

Secondly, to esteem someone better than ourselves simply means to value them more than we value ourselves. To some that may seem impossible, but it isn’t.

That is exactly what Jesus did. If Jesus, who was God in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16), could humble Himself and value our good above His own welfare, then we should certainly be able to do the same. It can happen when we die to self and live to God.

If we think only about ourselves, we will be selfish. If we get out of self and think more about the benefit of others than the benefit of self, then we will be selfless. It’s a matter of focus.