Children’s Sermon

Philippians 2:1-13

Selfishness

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Philippians 2:1-13

Selfishness

By Dr. Dan Wuori

Have you ever heard the word “selfish?” What does it mean to be selfish? (Solicit children’s responses.)

You’re right. We act selfishly when we spend too much time thinking about what we want – or the things we’d like to do.

Being a little bit selfish is probably normal, isn’t it? It’s hard not to think about those things sometimes – but the problem is that what’s good for us isn’t always good for others. Can you imagine what a sad world it would be if everyone was just looking out for themselves? If people stopped sharing? If people stopped helping? I know that my life would be much less happy.

Today we hear a reading from the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Philippians – and one of the things he tells them really stood out to as important to me. He told them that they should try to have a mind like Jesus’ – and that that means (in part) not being selfish in the things we do or believing that we’re more important than other people.

Instead, he tells us that we should be humble. (That might be a new word too?) To be humble is really to be the opposite of selfish – and to treat other people as though they are even more important than we are. That’s what Jesus’ life was all about, wasn’t it?

So this week, I want you to join me in being mindful of selfishness. Will you do it? See if you can’t find some ways to share more and to help more – and to really think of what’s good for others. I think you’ll find that it’ll make you feel pretty good yourselves. Give it a try.

Let’s pray.

Dear God,

Give us the strength this week to have minds like Jesus.’ Help us to be humble and to look out for the needs of our families, our friends – and even the needs of the strangers meet. In your name we pray.

Amen.

Copyright 2008, Dan Wuori. Used by permission.