It is easy to get wrapped up in our own lives and forget what everybody else is doing. When we focus on ourselves only, we don’t notice the needs of those around us and may miss opportunities to help and minister to them. But the moment we focus our attention on others, we recognize their needs and think of ways to help them. This help can be in any way such as helping a friend at work or a neighbor with her kids. It doesn’t matter what it is, what matters is that we have a genuine interest in our hearts to help others.

God’s help to people comes, most of the time, through other people. When we are willing to help others, we become available for God to use us. As He blesses other people through us, our need to be useful and to have a purpose is also met.

Our attitude should be like that of Jesus. “though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross” (vv. 6-8). Jesus accomplished His mission. He was humble and was only interested in others, so God rewarded Him with the highest reward—a special place in heaven, to the right hand of the Father.

The same way, we have a mission, and, in order to accomplish it, we must be humble like Jesus and focus on others. When we are done with our race, God will reward us too.