Jesus demonstrated an “others first” model throughout His life. He exemplified this mindset in His death. Even today, Jesus continues His other’s first mentality by constantly advocating on our behalf with the Father. Living a life that puts others first is central to the message and character of Christ. The New Testament, and indeed the entire Bible, is saturated with stories of self-sacrifice and putting the needs of others before their own. This is how we are to live.
But living for others is in stark contrast to modern Western thinking. For us, it’s about getting ahead, acquiring all we can, and considering ourselves a little better than those around us. In His letter to the Philippians, Paul admonishes them to do everything in humility and to always consider others more important than themselves (Philippians 2:3). It’s a far cry from how we live our lives today.