Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
COUNT OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT
As we pulled into the shell parking lot for one of our last church services, there was a clear difference from other Sundays. Cars filled the lot, the grass, and even lined the road. Men in pressed suits and women in bright Sunday dresses mingled near rows of tables laden with many of the same dishes Pastor Kirk and his wife had prepared for us — plus many more. There was a cooler filled with bottled water and sodas, most notably Goombay Punch, a fruit soda native to the Bahamas that I wish they sold at Publix.
It was Pastor Kirk’s ordination day — the culmination of years of God’s calling. From his beginnings in Nassau as a young, partying rebel (his words, not mine) with a full head of hair (his pastor’s words, not mine), to being saved, and finally to being called to an island so sparsely populated it makes Paulding County look like a metropolis. He had traveled to the United States to attend seminary and returned to the island with a clean, bald look — one that, I’ll admit, gives the full-head-of-hair style a run for its money.
People from Eleuthera, Nassau, and other neighboring islands had flown in for the day. There was just one problem: Pastor Kirk was not there. Well — not there yet. A few minutes fashionably late, he showed up in his car with Mama June and many of the other regulars. Most people in JC do not own a car, and many are too old to walk to the church. So Pastor Kirk spends each Sunday morning driving to pick up those he can, while also inviting those walking along the pothole-filled Queen’s Highway to join.
I don’t know about you, but I often look to my own self-interest. If a day were being held in my honor — with a display of food, Goombay Punch, and friends — it would be all about me. And there’s a warning in a message like this. Pastor Kirk often reminded me that he was once a hard-drinking sinner who, by the grace of God, found salvation. In the deepest sense, it isn’t about glorifying the person, but about glorifying the One the person follows. “Follow me as I follow Christ,” as Paul says (1 Cor. 11:1).
As you approach this weekend, remember what we’ve learned:
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God is everywhere.
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He is all good.
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His Word is true.
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And we’re called to imitate Jesus — in humility, unity, obedience, and service.
And that is truly good.
Curt Bowen is a husband, father, and group leader who loves engaging in apologetics, theology, and good BBQ. A thrill-seeker at heart, he enjoys roller coasters and has an appreciation for snakes—just not the conversational type.
