2nd July 2025

2nd July 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Philippians 2:19-24 focus v20-21)


Message (Alan Burke)


Self-interest is a common motivation in human behaviour, often driving individuals to act in ways that benefit themselves. The problem is that self-interest can have some really negative as well. It can lead to an erosion of trust as people priorities themselves and means they have no issue breaking confidence, those who act out of their self-interest can also mean that they do not concern themselves with the common good, they can justify harmful actions and attitudes to achieve their own goals even if that involves manipulation and exploitation. In reality that is how the world works, people look out of their own self interest, it was the case in Paul’s day and it is the case today. Like there is a reason why there is an ever growing inequality in wealth in the UK because people are looking out for their own interests rather than the inserts of others. 


As Paul speaks of Timothy to the church in Philippi he is a man who is no one else, he’s not motivated by his own self interest, instead he takes a genuine interest in others. In this we learn some of the character of Timothy. He was a man who was living a life worthy of the gospel and it was seen in how he had a genuine interest for others, he had a genuine concern for the church in Philippi. Yes he had been there with Paul on his second missionary journey when the Church in Philippi had begun (Act 16:1-3, 10-12) but his concern is not only because he had been among them, got to know them, his concern was because he was a man who was being conformed more and more into the likeness of Christ, the word of God had worked in his life. While Paul said everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ it was not the case for Timothy, he had concern for those whom Paul wrote to because his interests were those of Jesus Christ. 


Our natural and sinful inclination is to look out for our own self-interests, our motivations are self serving. We look first and foremost to our own happiness even at the expense of others. And this selfishness is manifested in those ways that Paul warns Timothy off when he wrote to him, of course it wasn’t an exhaustive list but to warn Timothy that people by their nature will love themselves, looking out for their own interests rather than those of Jesus Christ. And so we have here Paul holding out Timothy to the Church in Philippi who wasn’t like many in this world who are lovers of self rather than Jesus Christ. 


Over time Timothy had shown his worth, as one who took a genuine interest in others. What about us? Are we those who do what we do out of selfish ambition, are those who are lovers of ourselves? I’m sure we have all come across people sadly even in the church who are always looking for their own self-interests, but we as believers are to look to the interests of others. In the midst of a world that is perishing are we any different to the world around us, are we those who just like the world are preoccupied with ourselves, with our own troubles, with our own interests or do we have a genuine interest in the welfare of our brothers and sisters? 


Paul had held up Christ to the church and how our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! The more often we look to Christ and remember what he has done the easier it will be for us to be those who live as the people we claim to be in Christ Jesus, looking for his glory, his interests in our lives.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q10 How did God create man?
A. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.
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