Category: Selflessness

(9 of 13) Esteeming Each Other

The key to esteeming each other is humility. If I am proud, my attention and interest is in myself. Pride associates with selfishness. However, If I am humble, my attention and interest typically will be in others. I see their value equal to, even exceeding my own. My humility makes me selfless.  At least, that is God’s intention.

We are not talking here about self-hatred or despair. It is the realization that the value of another equals my own, and therefore my duty is to positively impact their lives. If you consider it, such actions reciprocated benefit all. I look out for multiple others, and all of them (having the same values) look out for me!

Consider the example Paul gave, writing about the care shown by a husband to his wife. “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church” (Ephesians 5:28-29). The husband’s love is to be selfless. He esteems and values his wife and makes her welfare and happiness his work.  This is an example of esteeming that should be common in the disciple’s life. Continue reading “(9 of 13) Esteeming Each Other”