Caring for Others
November 2025 Devotional: Caring for Others
Pastor Rick Warren wrote an amazing book called the Purpose Driven Life. The first sentence of the book says, “It’s not about you…” This statement is completely countercultural in today’s world. All you hear is things like, “You gotta take care of yourself first”, “Have it your way”, “You should do what you want to do.” But Jesus throughout his ministry will repeatedly tell us something completely different. The verse I want us to focus on comes from the Apostle Paul in the Book of Philippians. Paul is writing from jail to the church of Philippi- He is instructing them on how to live with one another as Christ’s Church.
Imitating Christ’s Humility
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
What an amazing piece of scripture. Such a beautiful picture of how we should treat each other based off the way Jesus came down to Earth and treated us. Paul is starting this verse with a bunch of rhetorical questions- as believers- we should all be united in Christ, we all find comfort in his love, we all share in the wisdom and comfort of the Holy Spirit- these are true gifts that as Christians we get to receive. So now, being together in the Body of Christ- we get to have unity in this comforting Love from Jesus. What this doesn’t mean is that we will always agree on Earthly values- such as politics and things of that nature. But we need to recognize that we share the greatest common Hope- an Eternal Hope! A Hope that is in Jesus Christ and his gift of salvation that lasts way beyond our years here on Earth. This helps us be in alignment with His values and not ours. Jesus said this in Matthew 22:37-40-
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
As Christians- we all Love the Lord our God- but coming in a close second is we need to Love one another as ourselves. How do we do this? Paul answers in verse 3-4- first- we humble ourselves. Which Paul gives a perfect picture of what true humility looks like in how Jesus humbled himself before us (Verses 6-11). Jesus left paradise to come down to Earth on the greatest rescue mission in history to save us sinners. Though he is God- he took on human form and did things like wash his disciples feet as a servant (John 13). So after humility- Paul tells us-we serve. We put others needs and interests before our own. Pastor Rick Warren says, ”Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” I love that! It’s showing compromise- putting someone before yourself. I think one of the greatest ways we can do that is just listen to people. Listening to someone is giving them your greatest gift- Time. Greater than money is our time- there’s no way to get it back. It’s how you show someone you truly Love and care for them.
Proverbs 18:2 says, “Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.”
I find a lot of the time when I’m caring only for myself and not listening and understanding where the other person is coming from and why- I am being foolish. But When I listen to them and get a better picture of why they’re doing what they’re doing- I then understand better, which helps me not act like a fool- but makes me act in Love rather than selfishness.
It’s now the Holiday season- full disclaimer- I am a Christmas Geek! I love this time of year- from Thanksgiving to the New Year. I love it- but lets be honest- this can be a very hard time of year. It’s a hard time dealing with the rush- shopping, parties, juggling all of the family, maybe you have a lost a loved one at this time and it brings up memories (good and bad), maybe you have no family. But the reason I wanted to focus on this verse is because as believers- we can and should look beyond these temporary “things”. We have a eternal family together in Christ! Which is why we are celebrating Christmas in the first place. So lets Honor our Heavenly Father with compromise, compassion, sacrifice, taking interests in each other and love one another as Jesus Loves Us. When the rest of the World sees this- they will notice- and they will want to join us in this everlasting Hope as well. His words- not mine.
Happy Thanksgiving Fire Family!
-Shawn