For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ - Phil. 2: 21
One of the saddest things we find among Christians is exactly this attitude: For everyone looks out for his own interests. What probably Paul really meant were people who were actively engaged in the Kingdom of God. The question arises how one could work in “God’s vineyard” and thereby seeking one’s own interests. Regrettably, this is quite possible and is rather common, because Jesus is often used for solely selfish purposes.
It was reported from a missionary-woman who did a blessed work in Africa, thereby leading many black people to the faith in Jesus Christ, that on her deathbed, she was overwhelmed by a deep sadness which her black brothers and sisters could not understand at all. They tried to comfort her by reminding her that they were converted thanks to her efforts in the kingdom of God. She answered in great distress: “I did it out of pure selfish love, and not of love for the LORD. Everything will burn up” (the fact that the LORD makes use of our own works for His purposes, does in no way mean that He agrees with them).
Our old nature is totally corrupted, rebellious, haughty, coldly calculating and especially totally egocentric. Finally, everything is used for our own benefit, the satisfaction of all emotional-corporal desires. Our motives to serve the LORD are mostly biased and shrewd. Quite often, we want to satisfy our hidden desires; we compensate our deep complexes; to profit at someone else’s expense, to seek honour, reputation, success and much more. And we do it for Jesus. It is exactly this apparently high religious goal which is supposedly at the origin of all false doctrines. We shall never be able to do anything on our own for the LORD that could be acknowledged in heaven. It will not withstand the fire of GOD’s holiness before the judgement seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10).
The most important experience in the life of a spiritual person is to be freed from the ego – his old human nature. And this always brings death pains at the cross. We must experience in reality the crucifixion with Jesus Christ at the soul and the spirit. Otherwise, we shall not be of any use for GOD’s true plans with man. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed (John 12:24). Since our LORD Jesus Christ in saying this made reference to Himself, how much more will it be valid for us. And since death on the cross is destined for criminals, we must first recognize our criminal nature, otherwise, our old human nature is still considered to be too good to suffer death. We must particularly realize that we are exploiting Jesus Christ in our Christian efforts to satisfy our own desires. We look for our own interests amidst our sacrificial service for the LORD and mankind.
What are the aims of Jesus Christ? What is the true will of GOD with man? Jesus once said: My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work (John 4:34). Many people actively involved in Christian-religious activities will once find the entrance of heaven barred because they did not do the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21-23). What is the will of GOD? The sovereign will of the Father is that we shall be totally united with His Son Jesus Christ – that Christ in all truth is our life. And this is the pathway of the cross, the death for our old, totally egocentric man. Only those who have experienced the crucifixion and death of old man seek for what is Jesus Christ’s. All others seek finally just what serves them best! Only men in Christ work for food that endures to eternal life (John 6:27).
What is the mystery behind it? Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). We then do no longer perform our own impressive works for the LORD (i.e. finally for our own), but the LORD Jesus Christ Himself does His works by the power of the Holy spirit through us – quite often in all weakness – and often without seeing it at all. But we shall harvest in eternity without end! If Christ is our life, He will then also be our attitude (Phil. 2: 5-11) – His aims will then be our aims. We shall no longer use Him for our own purposes. In this way, He will be the treasure in our earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7) and will glorify Himself through us.
