Have you ever read a verse in the Bible and thought, what exactly does that mean? I’ve read Philippians 2:3 many times but did a full stop last time, wondering, exactly how we are supposed to do that? What does it look like to value, esteem or consider others better than ourselves? In The New Testament for Everyone, translated by N.T. Wright, verses 3 and 4 go like this: “Never act out of selfish ambition or vanity; instead, regard everybody else as your superior. Look after each other’s best interests, not your own.” Is that even possible?   

I checked in with AI and it had several suggestions: 

• Practice active listening to understand others’ perspectives.
• Offer genuine compliments and recognition for others’ achievements.
• Engage in acts of kindness without expecting anything in return.
• Prioritise others’ needs and well-being in your decisions.
• Reflect on your own biases and work to overcome them.
• Foster empathy by putting yourself in others’ shoes regularly.

Those are all good, but I also came up with my own list: 

• Humble yourself to admit you’re wrong and ask for forgiveness. When we do this, we are giving up our right to be right and our desire to always come out on top. 
• Don’t say all the things you want to say – think first and then don’t. As James said, our mouths can cause a world of trouble, so not saying everything that crosses our minds shows not only restraint, but consideration for others (goes along with being a good listener). And remember, it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt (attributed to several people).
• Don’t always insist on doing the things you want to do. Give up your desire to make yourself happy and at least sometimes do what others would like to do. This is difficult if you really don’t want to do something. I was recently dragged to a restaurant with, in my honest opinion, nothing good to eat except fried potatoes. I did at least enjoy the potatoes!

It’s interesting that all of these ways to demonstrate valuing others more than yourself are also characteristics of someone who has died to self. George Müller, a 19th century British evangelist, said this about dying to self: ‘There was a day when I died. Died to George Müller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.’ (quoted in When Did You Die?, B. McCall Barbour).

In a world where it’s normal and even expected that we will look out for Number One, with Christ living in us, it’s not only desirable, but possible, to regard others as superior, and die to our natural inclinations. With nine practical ways to do it, may the Holy Spirit empower us to have the same mind as Jesus when it comes to how we see and interact with others (Philippians 2:4).

First published on 6 August 2025, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.

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