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How Can We Know We are Being Like Jesus?
How Can We Know We are Being Like Jesus?
Paul called Timothy “my true child in the faith” (I Timothy 1:2) and “my beloved child” (II Timothy 1:2). In Philippians 2:20, Paul said there was no one quite like Timothy among those whom Paul could send to check on the Philippians. Paul clearly thought very highly of Timothy.
What set Timothy apart according to Paul? Philippians 2:21 explains the difference between Timothy and the others: “For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (ESV). Timothy was focused on the interests of Jesus Christ. The others that Paul had at his disposal still struggled with pursuing their own interests. This is a strong compliment especially following the heels of Paul’s admonition to the Philippians to “Do nothing from rivalry 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” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Paul was speaking against the kind of political self-promotion it is so easy to get involved in. Instead of putting ourselves first by seeking our own interests, Paul told us to put others first. But Timothy went beyond this admonition. He was not seeking his own interests, but Jesus’ interests.
Notice how that impacted Timothy’s relationships with others. According to Philippians 2:20, it made Timothy stand out with concern for the welfare of others. Does this give us a bit of a litmus test to let us know when we are really concerned about Jesus’ interests instead of our own? Does this give us a way to test ourselves to see how much we are like Jesus? Certainly, we are focused on Jesus’ interests when we are concerned about doctrinal matters and purity. We need to teach Jesus’ will in every arena of life and service to Him. We need to proclaim the truth about worship, work of the church, evangelism, the kingdom, etc. But how do we know when Jesus’ interests have really settled into our hearts and not just in our heads? When we are genuinely concerned about the welfare of others.
It is so easy to get wrapped up in ourselves. We have bills to pay, kids to raise, jobs to accomplish. We have our own recreation to enjoy. We have our own families to care for. It is so easy to let each day be nothing more than a rat race of getting through the day. Or we can just get caught up in trying to get ahead. We can spend so much time pursuing the goals of our financial, career, or even recreational dreams that we forget about everyone else around us. God hasn’t allowed us to face another day just so we can say we made it through another day or financially surpass everyone else. God has given us this day so we can be concerned about others.
How can we show our genuine concern for others? Certainly, we can be like those sheep on the right hand of God in Matthew 25:33-39. We can give food to the hungry, drinks to the thirsty, clothes to the destitute, hospitality to the stranger, and check up on the sick and imprisoned. As Romans 12:15 says, we can weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. As I Peter 4:10 says, we can use whatever gifts we have to serve others. As Galatians 6:1 says, we can in gentleness restore those who are caught in their own trespasses. As Jesus taught in Matthew 28:19, we can disciple others by sharing the gospel with them.
Recently, I’ve been able to spend time with a personal worker extraordinaire. As I watched him, I realized he didn’t have any hidden secrets. He didn’t have a fool-proof technique. He was simply concerned about the welfare of every person he met including hostesses, waiters, waitresses, check-out clerks, bank tellers. He didn’t spend his days trying to pursue all of his own life’s goals. He sought Jesus’ interests, which meant he was concerned about the welfare of others.
Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying we all need to quit our jobs and stop trying to excel in anything other than personal evangelism or Bible studies with others. I have just been reminded that while we are in the midst of every other aspect of our lives, our number one goal must not be about pursuing our own interests. It needs to be developing concern for the welfare, especially the spiritual welfare, of the people all these other pursuits bring us in contact with.
Then we will know that Jesus’ interests have truly settled their way into our hearts.
--Edwin L. Crozier
