“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Philippians 2:19-21
Paul was in a prison cell in Rome, almost 1000 km away from Philippi. He longed to see his friends and look into their welfare. Were it not for the chains that bound him to Rome, he would have set out immediately on the journey.
Paul could not go himself. Who could go for him? “I have no man likeminded,” he sighs. None of his coworkers in Rome had a natural interest in the people he cared so much about. Nobody, except for Timothy, Epaphroditus (see verses 25-30), and a few others who most probably were not there at the moment. “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”
How did Paul know? What made the difference between Timothy and the other helpers? As I searched the writings of Paul, I came up with a few key characteristics of those people who seek the things of Jesus and the benefit of others vs. those who seek their own.
1. Willingness to take risks
Maybe none was willing to make the treacherous journey by sea and land. There were many dangers along the way. Would they risk their lives just to see how other believers were faring? Wasn’t written communication enough? For those who sought their own, a letter from the Philippians would have sufficed, but not for Paul. He wanted to see them face to face; he wanted to know the truth about their spiritual condition.
“So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. […]
But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. […]
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face […] God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8, 17; 3:10-11)
Do not the words of Paul throw light on the limitations of online communication? If we really care, we will want to go beyond the limits of the internet or social media and be physically present for others, even at a personal cost.
2. Capacity to identify needs
It is possible that some of Paul’s helpers were willing to risk and make the treacherous journey. But maybe they did not possess the capacity or the perception to identify the needs of the church—they would probably have reported back (and honestly believed) that everything was fine.
In my work as a friend, an employee, a teacher, or a church member, I often found that this was the case with me. I would look at a situation or a relationship and not be able to identify what was wrong. For me, everything seemed fine, when in fact, there were real problems and needs.
Paul needed someone with keen perception and trained spiritual eyesight:
“And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight,” or, in other words, “that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment.” Philippians 1:9 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
Timothy could go to Philippi and acquaint himself deeply with the believers in the church, with their problems and needs. The people themselves were probably unaware of their condition, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, Timothy could exercise mature discernment and judge the situation aright. Young as he was, he knew that love for others required “depth of acquaintance” and “comprehensive discernment,” and the Holy Spirit empowered him with these abilities. Thus he became a wise spiritual leader.
3. Disposition to sacrifice opinions and practices
In the church of Corinth, there were some believers who did not find any problem with eating clean meat sold in the market. Other believers with a more sensitive conscience were worried about eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. The differences between the two groups threatened to create divisions in the church.
It was in this delicate situation that Paul gave some very wise advice:
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. […] Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 32-33)
Sometimes, it is wiser to give up some “lawful” things, in order to support others who find those things to be a stumbling block. Going forward in our own ways, unmindful of the impressions we make on others, reveals a self-centered attitude. “But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died… It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” (Romans 14:15,21)
Maybe Paul couldn’t find people who were sensitive enough to the consciences of others, who showed a disposition to sacrifice their own opinions or practices in order to support weaker believers.
4. Meekness in dealing with sin
Another characteristic of people who do not seek their own is a spirit of meekness, especially when correcting sin in others. Some of Paul’s helpers were possibly zealous for God, but not tactful and humble enough to deal with other people’s wrongs.
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)
5. Adaptable
An older, more experienced teacher once told me how teachers should be able to adjust their “personality type,” or even “temperament” in the classroom, mentioning several examples from the life of Jesus. Christ manifested a strong “choleric” temperament when he expelled the merchants from the temple, “sanguine” and jovial when eating with the publicans at their feasts, “phlegmatic” and unconcerned in the middle of the storm, and “melancholic” when weeping over Jerusalem. Each different situation required a different approach.
Paul practiced this same adaptability in his work. “For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.” (2 Corinthians 5:13)
Sometimes we need to behave “beside ourselves,” or different from our normal selves, in order to help others. This doesn’t mean we need to fake and compromise authenticity and genuineness. But in our efforts to help, we might need to adjust our normal reaction patterns. If we are naturally shy, we might have to overcome that timidity in certain situations. If we tend to be too energetic and talkative, we might have to calm down and listen to someone open up their heart. Whatever the situation is, we must be willing to become whatever is needed to help others. “For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.”
Would Paul have chosen you and me? Do we seek our own things, or the things which are Jesus Christ’s?
A word of encouragement
The love which God gives “seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthians 13:5). God wants us to have this perfect, unselfish love for others.
In our service for God, however, we may become discouraged. We may want to do what is right, but “all unconsciously we act out the attributes of our own character and the bias of our own mind in the very presence of God, in our prayer and worship…” (Daughters of God, p. 127.2)
If you relate to this, I would like to share with you an excerpt from a sermon, which has been a great encouragement to me.
You remember when Christ was here, as He drew near to the end of His ministry, one day James and John came to Him and what did they ask? “Oh,” they said, “will You do something for us?” Just like children, they said, “Will you give us anything we ask?” Jesus said, “Now, what is it you want.” “Oh,” they said, “we want to sit right next to you in your kingdom, one on your right hand and one on the left.” Jesus said, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink of the cup that I drink of and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said, “Yes we are. We are able.” Jesus said, “You will drink of My cup, and you will be baptized with My baptism, but to decide who is going to sit on My right hand and on My left is with My Father.” […] Christ knew that underneath the obvious selfishness was a longing to be with Him, and He appreciated it. And I want to tell you something, young men and women, and older ones too. If, at times, you are discouraged with your own selfishness, remember that Jesus looks deep down; He knows you want to be with Him, and He appreciates that. He looks deeper than other human beings can. You know, sometimes even when we are trying to testify or to sing or to speak for God, somebody may say in their hearts or they may even tell us, “It looks to me like you are just trying to show off, just trying to get attention, or this or that.” Or our own hearts may condemn us. Dear ones, I want to tell you: Anything we do for God, the way we are at present, is marred with our humanity. It is weak and inefficient. It is incomplete. And thank God, Jesus is in the business of adding the incense of His merits all the while. You remember in the ancient sanctuary, as the people prayed and as the priest interceded, the incense ascended. And oh, I am so glad that Christ is in the business of making my prayers acceptable. He makes them smell sweet. He perfumes them. Aren’t you glad for that, friends? So don’t be afraid to talk to God or to talk about Him. Bring to God what you have, the best you have. And He will make up the deficiency. He understands what human beings may not understand. He loves you. He loves to have you with Him. And He took James and John, in spite of their strange and obviously selfish request, and got them ready for the place where they can not only sit next to Him like they asked, but they are going to sit right in the throne with Him. Isn’t that wonderful? Oh, how it must have thrilled John’s heart, out there on rocky Patmos, to get the answer of how he was to be so close to His Lord. He had pressed close to Him, you remember, in those journeys through Galilee and Judea. He had leaned on His breast at supper time, right next to Him. Friends, press close to Jesus. He wants you. He loves you. W. D. Frazee, Meeting God’s Heart Need (Part 6 of 8) Sermon #0233, April 25, 1972
Ellen White comments on this very incident related to John and James’ imperfect love for Christ:
“Jesus bears tenderly with them, not rebuking their selfishness in seeking preference above their brethren. He reads their hearts, He knows the depth of their attachment to Him. Their love is not a mere human affection; though defiled by the earthliness of its human channel, it is an outflowing from the fountain of His own redeeming love. He will not rebuke, but deepen and purify.” (The Desire of Ages, p. 548.6)
Conclusion
I invite you to set out with me on a journey of seeking the things of Jesus. Ask God to:
- Help you bear inconveniences and even risks for the sake of others.
- Broaden your mind and give you depth of perception to identify their spiritual needs.
- Help you renounce even “lawful” things for the edification of those around you.
- Make you humble and tactful when correcting people.
- Make you adaptable to any situation.
Self-seeking and impure motives may trouble you. But don’t be discouraged! Give those things over to God. He loves you. He will not rebuke, but deepen and purify.
Don’t be afraid to serve Him!