By Rev. Todd R. Lattig
Read Philippians 2:1-11
ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13 NLT).
We’ve all seen those bumper stickers and church signs urging us to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Well-intentioned? Sure. But often missing the mark? Absolutely. They focus on preserving a commercialized image of “baby Jesus” rather than embracing the full, transformative power of Christ in our lives. The real challenge isn’t just keeping Christ in a holiday—it’s keeping Christ in Christian.
Part 18: Don’t Be Self-Centered. Some of you may have heard the famous allegory of the long spoons, which illustrates the stark contrast between heaven and hell. The story goes that a person was given a tour of both realms. In hell, they saw people sitting around a large pot of stew, each holding a long-handled spoon. Despite the abundance of food, they were unable to feed themselves because the spoons were too long to reach their mouths. Their frustration and suffering were palpable.
In contrast, when they visited heaven, they found a nearly identical scene: people sitting around a pot of stew with the same long-handled spoons. However, here, everyone was well-nourished and joyful. The difference was not in the circumstances but in the actions of the people. In heaven, they used their long spoons to feed each other, demonstrating a selfless love and community that allowed them to thrive.
This allegory teaches us an important truth: self-centeredness leads to emptiness and suffering, while selflessness brings joy and fulfillment. As Christians, we are called to live out our faith in a way that values others above ourselves. This is not just an ideal but a command rooted in Scripture.
In Philippians 2:1-11, Paul paints a vivid picture of what it means to live humbly and selflessly. Paul urges believers to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who “gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being” (Philippians 2:7 NLT). Jesus’ entire life was marked by humility and service to others, culminating in Jesus’ ultimate act of selflessness on the cross.
Self-centeredness is one of the most pervasive challenges we face today. It shows up in countless ways—when we prioritize our own comfort over someone else’s needs, when we seek recognition for our good deeds, or when we avoid helping others because it feels inconvenient. Some of us may even choose to “sleep in” or prioritize leisure activities over worshiping God or serving in mission. Social media amplifies this tendency by encouraging us to curate perfect versions of ourselves for validation and attention.
But Jesus calls us to something radically different. In John 15:12-13, Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us—a love so profound that it lays down its life for others. This kind of love isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about daily acts of kindness, humility, and service.
Think about your own life for a moment. Are there areas where self-centeredness has crept in? Maybe it’s in your relationships—where you expect others to meet your needs without considering theirs—or in your work or ministry—where you focus on personal success rather than serving those around you. These are hard questions to ask ourselves, but they are necessary if we want to grow as followers of Christ.
The good news is that we don’t have to overcome self-centeredness on our own. God gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us and transform our hearts. When we surrender our desires and ambitions to God’s will, God replaces them with a spirit of humility and love.
The world tells us that putting ourselves first is the key to happiness; Scripture tells us the opposite. True joy comes when we put God first, trusting God with our needs and living out our faith by prioritizing others while also taking care of ourselves in a balanced way. Just like those in heaven using their long spoons to feed each other, we thrive when we live selflessly within community.
As we reflect on this lesson from Philippians 2 and the allegory of the long spoons, let’s commit ourselves to living out Christ’s example of humility and service. Let’s reject self-centeredness and embrace a life that values others above ourselves.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
True joy comes not from serving ourselves but from serving others with humility and love.PRAYER
God, help us to reject self-centeredness and embrace humility as we follow Your example. Teach us to value others above ourselves while caring for ourselves in balance. Transform our hearts so that we may reflect Your selfless nature in all we do. Amen.
Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.
