1101) Talk of self-love is prevalent these days. You hear of “me days” and looking out for yourself first. I have read in Christian books that you need to love, rather than loath yourself in order to be a whole person. Some of these thoughts need to be considered when setting healthy boundaries for yourself. I do not think a Christian must live a life of outward poverty and go cold and hungry because of the cause of Christ. May there be times where God asks this of us? Of course, but “suffering” just to appear righteous is not what God means in Philippians 2:3-4.

In verse 3, Paul instructs God’s people to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. I had to look up these words to get a better understanding of them.

When I looked into the root words for “selfish ambition,” I saw it meant stacking the deck in my favor. This describes the desire to manipulate situations so things are easier; more profitable, and more comfortable for me, first. When I stack the deck, I am looking for the better for myself at other people’s expense. This is not to be confused with taking care of myself or making sure I am not overextending myself.

In considering the words “vain conceit,” the word vain means devoid of real worth or worthless and conceit means deceitful notion. Going further into these words, deceitful comes from the idea of misrepresenting something, and notion comes from the Latin word “notus” which means the known. Vain conceit is misrepresenting the known, the things others can observe, unlike your thoughts and motivations.

When Paul concludes in verse 4 to look out for the interests of others before your own, he means we need to treat others with a priority, looking out for other’s welfare before our own. It’s, “What can I do to improve your day?” rather than, “What can I do to make sure I am comfortable first?”

Satan has made self-love a trap, and he is often successful. Watch out for this; don’t let him snare you.