Watch Out for What Is Better for Others
Philippians 2:4 · Fresh Start: When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn
“Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.” — Philippians 2:4 (CEB)
This is one of the most countercultural sentences in the New Testament. Everything in our formation teaches us to watch out for ourselves, protect your interests, secure your position, make sure you get what you deserve. Paul doesn’t say self-care is wrong. He says the default setting needs to be redirected. Instead of scanning every room for how it benefits you, scan it for how you can benefit someone else.
This isn’t a personality trait some people are born with. It’s a discipline, a daily practice of noticing. The colleague who seems off today. The neighbor whose lawn hasn’t been mowed in weeks. The friend who always asks how you’re doing but nobody asks about.
Watching out for what is better for others starts with seeing them in the first place. Most of us aren’t selfish. We’re just preoccupied. And preoccupation looks a lot like indifference to the person who needs us.
God who watches over all of us, retrain our eyes to see what others need. Christ, you spent your life watching out for the overlooked. Holy Spirit, interrupt our preoccupation with the needs right in front of us. Amen.