Have It Your Way?

[Love] does not insist on its own way. —1 Corinthians 13:5

I suppose if there were a mantra for our culture, it would be, “Have it your way.” We so naturally seek out our own rights, our own interests, and our own glory.

The apostle Paul says in Philippians 2, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (v. 4). Later in the chapter, he goes on to say that he hopes to send Timothy to the Philippian church: “For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (vv. 20–21).

Jesus is the exact opposite of “have it your way.” He left His way, interests, and glory in heaven so He could come to earth and lay down His life for us. Would He have gone to the cross for us if He were seeking to have it His way? Jesus came not to be served but to serve. He never sought His own welfare but always that of others.