Putting Others First – The Pathway to Amazing Blessings

(Philippians 2:4) tells us: “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Did you ever realize that Jesus lived for others. Not only did he love mankind, but He came to die for mankind. His desire was to share His wonderful message of salvation with others, and He gave us the example that we too should live for others by service, sharing, and helping our fellow man.

And living for others is not only the right thing to do, according to Scripture, but it is for our own good. And yes, while it may be costly to live for others, as we practice self-denial, it is more costly not to do so.

You see when we only live for ourselves and our own personal interests we become consumed with self-gratification and this leads very often to loneliness and can even lead to depression, because we were never made to put ourselves first. Real meaning and joy comes from serving, first God and then others. And when we do this we find we often benefit just as much as the people we serve. My friends when the Bible tells us that it is more blessed to give than to receive it is giving us a spiritual law that never fails. I know in my own life that the times I receive the greatest satisfaction is when I am serving others before myself.  

I am learning that serving others opens up levels of personal fulfillment far exceeding any others. When we put others first we gain a special compensation we can obtain in no other way. And just what is this compensation? Well, we will first gain the approval of our heavenly Father. Second, we will widen our circle of friends. Third, we will find deep satisfaction and joy in life. And forth, we will be accruing wonderful rewards in heaven.

The idea of serving others first in our society sounds nice but is rarely thought of as the pathway to true personal fulfillment. Instead, in America today, fulfillment is often associated with the accumulation of material possessions and career advancement. But I have learned in my walk with the Lord that self-denial, and serving God and others first, is the only way to obtain true joy and peace – the key ingredients to personal fulfillment.

So if you want to receive maximum blessings in life put others before you and watch how joy floods your soul!