Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4

Today I boarded an airplane where the flight attendants began their safety talk including the part about how to use an oxygen mask in the instance of a sudden loss of cabin pressure. And then they repeated that you should first put on your oxygen mask and then help others.

If you’re traveling with a child I suppose you might want to help them first, but in our experience, no one had to teach any of us how we should look after our own interests ahead of others.

From the moment we were born we’ve used whatever means necessary to make sure we were comforted and fed and while we don’t usually resort to crying to get our way as adults, we still find a way to make sure our needs are taken care of. It’s part of our nature, right?

In the verse above, Paul is talking about something more than making sure our needs are met. He realizes we must take care of our own interests as responsible men and women. But with the word “also”, he is pointing out that a “me-centered” life is not the focus if the follower of Christ.

Then, in the verses that follow, he describes the sacrificial life of Christ –

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:8

In light of His example, think about your life. I think most of us recognize our tendency towards selfishness and so we must be intentional to “also look out for the interests of others.’