“Me First”

by Micky Galloway

As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, people were invited to follow Him. The first man of Luke 9 volunteered, “I will follow thee withersoever thou goest.” Others wanted to follow, but other things came first. “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father,” or “I will follow thee, Lord; but first suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house.” The “me first” mentality was fundamentally opposed to everything Jesus taught about discipleship! Jesus taught, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). “If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27). Now that we are coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s take a hard look at “self” and see if we are manifesting evidence of the “me first” mentality. What can be said or done to cause us to shake off the shackles of the past and put “God first” in every decision?

Consider our attendance. Lack of attendance is symptomatic of other spiritual problems! The Scriptures reveal the value of assembling together with other Christians. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers … And all that believed were together, and had all things common … And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple …” (Acts 2:42-46). The disciples came together regularly on the “first day of the week” (Acts 20:7). One of the motives was their thoughts of others first. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting (one another); and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh” (Hebrews 10:24-25). We so desperately need to be together to worship God! And what about Sunday night and Wednesday night; and Sunday morning Bible study? Attendance at only one out of four opportunities to give and receive exhortation and encouragement is not good! Would we educate our children or take a prescription for an illness that way?

Yet, many will often put personal interests before opportunities to attend worship and Bible studies. Recreational outings, company, and family gatherings are important. However, when these are more important than my brethren or the Lord, it is evidence of the “me first” mentality.

Consider our contribution. Christians are taught, “Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come” (I Corinthians 16:2). “But this (I say,) He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (Let) each man (do) according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:6-7).

Yet, many determine what they give from what they have left over after everything else is paid for. Often, that includes spending as much as possible on things for themselves. Israel of old had the “me first” mentality. The prophet asked them while the temple of God languished in rubble, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lieth waste? Now therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways …” (Haggai 1:4-5). Negligent giving of our prosperity is another sign of the “me first” mentality. The churches in Macedonia were commended as a worthy example, “… For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, (they gave) of their own accord, beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints: and (this), not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God” (II Corinthians 8:2-5). Purposeful and careful planning are important to an acceptable contribution. “(Let) each man (do) according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7; cf. I Corinthians 16:1-3).

Consider our service in the local congregation. We are a vital part of the body of Christ. “For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, (let us prophesy) according to the proportion of our faith; or ministry, (let us give ourselves) to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, (let him do it) with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:3-8; cf. I Corinthians 12:12-27).

Yet, many make little effort to function as a part of the local work of the congregation. Instead of asking what the church can do for me, perhaps we need to ask, “What can I do for the local church?” (1) Learn all the members names. (2) Support the work of the local church. (3) Cleaning and maintaining the building, keeping the lawn, and preparing the Lord’s Supper are valuable services! (4) Attend meetings called to consider the business of the church. (5) Attend Bible classes. (6) Participate in worship assemblies (lead singing, prayers, Lord’s Supper, etc.). These are simple things we can do. We are commanded to do nothing “through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Let us make specific applications: “Ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). “Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying” (Romans 15:1-2). “And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all” (I Thessalonians 5:14). How can we obey any of these if we go days or weeks on end and never communicate with other members of the local congregation? Some may attend worship assemblies, but only to receive, not to give of themselves. Lack of involvement in the local church is another sign of the “me first” mentality. Please consider the judgment scene of Matthew 25:31ff. We are judged individually on the basis of what we do for others. “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16 NASU).

The “me first” mentality destroys. It will destroy the local church, your family, and your soul. Aren’t you thankful that Jesus, “who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped”? Rather, He considered “others first” and “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient (even) unto death, yea, the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). Let us therefore, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5-6).

Let us consider how we can apply an “others first” mentality. If we do, the church and our own spiritual lives will grow.