INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Today we will conclude this series on Learning to Lead. I hope you have found some things through this series what will help you to grow as a person, and a leader.
• Today I want to close this series with one of the most important lessons in this series, Building Value in people.
• We live in a time in which we are encouraged to look out for number one, take care of oneself, to watch your back, to get all you can because one day you will die.
• I believe this message goes to the core of who one is deep inside. This message goes to the core of how we see ourselves, the world around us, as well as other people.
• In life, one has to decide how they are going to view people. We can either see them as a blessing from God, as God’s creation, or we can see them as tools to be used for our own glory.
• The difference in views can be labeled as selfless or selfish.
• The selfless person will understand that people are one of their greatest assets one have have around them.
• The Selfless person realizes that investing in people will benefit not only the person they are investing, but also the investor!
• When I worked for Square D, I wondered why they would pay for college for their workers. Other than tax issues, I was told that a more educated workforce, would be more beneficial for the worker and the company.
• The SELFISH person sees people as objects or obstacles. The selfish person will use people and toss them aside like a dirty paper towel. They will keep them around as long as they can do something for them. We see this in problem marriages by the way!
• They will always seek to draw from their account and not make much if any investment back into the person’s account from which they are always drawing from.
• Today I want to take us through a couple of verses in the book of Philippians chapter 2.
• In verses 1-2, Paul encourages the church to build unity. Verses 3-4 give insight ahs to how to do that, verse 5-ff explain why.
• In the passages that follow our text in verses 3-4, Paul talks about the selfless nature of Jesus and what He did to benefit, or to help build value in humans.
• When we learn to see value and build value into others, we will enjoy more unity within the home, church, school and business worlds.
• At some point we may have switched the price tags from something of value, worthy of investing ourselves into to valuing stuff and self above all else.
• In the verses we will cover, we will see three things we can do in order help build value in other people.
• SLIDE #2
• Philippians 2:3–4 (HCSB) Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Realize that life is not about the unholy trinity, me, myself, and I.
• When we are born, we cry when we want to be fed, when we need a diaper change, when we are tired, when mom tries to get close to dad.
• When we are born, our world is all about self, it is all we know, it is how we survive because we need others to take care of us.
• Over time, we learn that the world is does not revolve around us, we learn to share, and that was a traumatic experience.
• Have you ever seen a group of small children together, they all seem to want the same toy, they fight over it and cry, and scream and hit each other for the toy?
• Then an adult walks in and makes them all share. All is good!
• When we get self-absorbed, we do not care about anything but self.
• Now, we usually do not see adults crying on the floor because someone took their toy away from them; however, the same scenario can play itself out over power, position and authority.
• Paul tells the Philippians to do NOTHING out of rivalry or conceit.
• Rivalry is translated as SELFISH AMBITION in many translations.
• Some versions use the phrase EMPTY CONCEIT for CONCEIT.
• The Greek text simply states the double negative without a verb: “neither rivalry or conceit.” The addition of a verb of action (do nothing) correctly indicates that the phrase has the force of a moral imperative.
• Since Paul is focusing on the attitude of mind (2:2, 5) in the immediate context, the imperatival sense of his double negative is a prohibition against two attitudes, two egocentric ways of thinking. Hansen, G. W. (2009). The Letter to the Philippians (p. 113). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
• Galatians 5:26 echoes this thought
• SLIDE #4
• Galatians 5:26 (HCSB) We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
• A person who is self-absorbed usually has a false sense of self. This admonition reflects that.
• Looking at the two negative words paints a picture of one who is values self more than others.
• Rivalry or selfish ambition depicts a person who will use questionable methods to get what they want. This person will cause strife with those around him to get what they want without consideration of others.
• This pictures that little child who is selfishly trying to gather all the toys for themselves.
• Selfishness breads anger and resentment. A self-centered person will be angry when everything does not come to them they way they want it.
• John MacArthur Jr. states concerning Rivalry, “It usually carried the idea of building oneself up by tearing someone else down, as in gambling, where one person's gain is derived from others' losses. The word accurately describes someone who strives to advance himself by using flattery, deceit, false accusation, contentiousness, and any other tactic that seems advantageous.” MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The - MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Philippians.
• The second negative phrase CONCEIT is a combination of two Greek words that translate to EMPTY GLORY.
• We have heard of the concept of the deplorable act of STOLE VALOR. This would catch the flavor of this phrase today. It pictures a person who, though conceited, has no reason for it.
• As long as we think the world revolves around us, we will never value other, so we have to learn how to chance that way of thinking.
• SLIDE #5
II. Understand the value of other people.
• The later part of verse 3 offers a positive key for one to be able to unlock a new way of thinking.
• SLIDE #6
• but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
• That key is HUMILITY.
• Humility will allow one to place the price tags back where they need to be. This does not mean you are to see yourself with no value, but rather that you raise the value you place in others.
• This thought was a difficult thought for the Greek mindset, because they saw humility was something a free person did not need, even though they understood that empty conceit and selfish ambition was not a great thing to possess either.
• Greek authors from around the same time period as Paul such as the Greek Historian Plutarch, viewed humility with contempt because it connoted lowliness, weakness, lack of freedom, servility, and subjection. Plutarch insists that fate cannot make a great man “fearful and poor-spirited.”
• In Christ, however, conceit was never appropriate. Though “humility” was an uncomplimentary term to the Greek mind, the attitude of Christ had sanctified it and made it one of the most significant of Christian virtues.
• Humility was not a sense of worthlessness, but rather was manifested in concern for others.
• The last part of the verse “consider … yourselves” defines the term.
• By adopting this perspective and by drawing from the reality of Christ’s deeds, “selfish ambition” and “vain conceit” could be overcome.
• Paul explains to his readers that the way to practice humility is to value others above yourselves.
• The verb CONSIDER which can be translated VALUE, focuses the mind “to engage in an intellectual process, to think, consider and regard.”
• Instead of being preoccupied with introspective, self-absorbed, egocentric thoughts, the mind turns outward to regard the value of others.
• I do not know how you see people, but I see a great deal of untapped potential in people.
• We need to value others, because Jesus did!
• SLIDE #7
• 1 Corinthians 7:23 (HCSB) You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
• Jesus DIED for people, Jesus values PEOPLE. Humans are special to God, we have such great unlocked potential, with God we can do great things.
• We need to learn to see people through the eyes of Jesus.
• We live in a world that does not value people, we treasure stuff, God did not send His Son to die for stuff.
• SLIDE #8
III. Make building value of others a priority for your life.
• Verse 4 tells us, “Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
• The participle translated “LOOK OUT” means to look attentively, to fix one’s attention on something with deep interest in it.
• This passage does not imply that we passively watch out for others, but rather that we become active participants in their growth process.
• Good leaders make people around them better, they make building the lives of others a priority.
• Good Christians will do the same for people in their circle of life.
• We are called to mentor and to invest ourselves in others.
• One of the reasons we feel a disconnect is because we do not invest in one another.
• In Luke 12:34 Jesus reminds us, where your treasure is, you heart will be also.
• RANDY GARISS Story.
• THE DOG DID NOT CHANGE!
• If a spouse loses their heart for their spouse, it is because they pulled their investment or heart from there spouse and placed it with another.
• When you invest into other people, you will gain a heart for other people, this is why we love our kids no matter what, we have invested in them and we have a heart for them.
• We are special to God, YOU are special to God, no matter who you are!
• SLIDE #9
• Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB) For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
• YOU ARE GOD’S CREATION! IF People are a priority for Jesus, they should also be a priority for US!
• Church it is time to rise up and help others grow in their walk with the Lord!
• I was so pleased with our first Man Cave effort, I see a great ministry possibly growing out of that group for men, but men, I cannot make it happen alone, I need you to be willing to making building value in other men a priority!
• Ladies, you are being challenged to do likewise. LADIES SPA! It is time to arise and work on building one another up as you have been. These are not ministries for the sake of ministry, but rather for the sake of the call to help others grow in Christ!
CONCLUSION
• It is time to get off the side lines, to get off the bench and to join the game.
• I hope that you will join me on the endeavor to build value in others wherever you are!
• For those without Jesus, it is time for you claim what God sent His Son to die for, YOUR SALVATION!
