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Luke 2:19-14 – Not About Me
Me, me, me…I can easily get interested in something if it is about me. The interest can soar or sour depending upon what is said…gossip hurts…praise feels good. If we are in a room and all of a sudden our name is mentioned…oh so softly…in a corner…we can hear it clear across the room. I think I heard somewhere that the most audible sound is our name.
My children, oh, I am interested in them too. Amazingly I can get more excited at their accomplishments than my own. That’s what being a parent does for you…and to you. Do you think I get nearly as excited about another child getting a scholarship, becoming Section Leader, chosen for Drum Major, stealing home, hitting the perfect bunt, hitting a jumper and such as I do when it is my child? But ultimately that is still about me because it is about mine. Somehow I think you might be same about your kids…and grandkids.
You…yeah, I can get interested in you too. After all, you are my friend. You see, it is about me again. I like my friends because…well, they like me! We have fun together. I get something out of the relationship. Admittedly I do not have too many friends that do not like me! At least that I know of….
Pause for a second. Do I sound selfish? Am I a narcissist? Or can you relate? Does this make sense? Do I lack in humility or is this just a mark of humanity? I do not consider myself selfish but all of the above can lead to self-centeredness. We are created to care about ourselves and even commanded to – Love your neighbor AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF. But, we all need to care, to celebrate, when we have no self-interests at all.
Rom 12:15 – Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
How can we do learn to be more interested in that which does not interest us?
The angels show this selflessness – Luke 2:9-14 – And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. (10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; (11) for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (13) And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
What benefit did the angels get out of Jesus becoming a savior? None (Hebrews 2:16). Did angels need saving? Apparently some did (Jude 6). Did they think, “Hey that’s not fair!” If they did, then that gets closer to sin than what we want to admit, because then we are condemning God’s righteousness.
“Not me,” but someone else was their concern. “Not me,” but God. The angels did not benefit from God’s grace to man.
Wait…let me take that back, at least partially. The angels do get to share in God’s grace. God graces them with the privilege to serve as messengers to spread the good news about salvation for others. God chooses them, therefore they shout the good news, praising God. God chooses them. That is a blessing. God chooses them to serve. That is another blessing. God chooses them to serve Him. That is the ultimate blessing.
Ahh, there is the secret. If my ultimate sense of joy comes from glorifying God, then I can rejoice simply and supremely because God is being glorified. He deserves it, and not because I am His child.
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