DAILY TEXT, Today  Thursday, September 28, 2023,  Seek not only your own interests, but also those of others (Philipp. 2:4).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2023

Thursday September 28

Seek not only your own interests, but also those of others (Phil. 2:4).

We can all learn from Jesus' spirit of sacrifice. The Bible says that he “took the form of a slave” (Phil. 2:7). A good slave or servant looks for ways to please his master. As we are slaves of Jehovah and servants of our brothers, we desire to be increasingly useful to our God and our companions. Let's ask ourselves: “Am I willing to make personal sacrifices to help others? “Shall I immediately volunteer to help with cleaning the convention site or maintaining the Kingdom Hall?” If we realize that we need to improve in some area, but we do not feel the desire to do so, let us pray to Jehovah from the heart. Let us tell Him how we feel and ask Him to give us “both the desire and the strength to act” (Philipp. 2:13). w22.02 9:9-11.

How can prayer help us cultivate the spirit of sacrifice?

Pray to Jehovah from the heart. If you realize that you need to improve in some area, but do not feel the desire to do so, pray to Jehovah from your heart. Be honest. Tell him how you feel and ask him to give you “both the desire and the strength to act” (Philipp. 2:13).

How can young baptized men help the organization?

Are you a young man and are you baptized? Then ask Jehovah to help you desire to do more in the congregation. In some places there are more elders than ministerial servants, and many of those ministerial servants are already of a certain age. As the organization continues to grow, more young brothers are needed to help the elders care for Jehovah's people. If you volunteer to serve where there is need, you will be happy because you will please Jehovah, you will make a good name for yourself, and you will feel the satisfaction of helping others.

What practical steps did Christians in Judea take to help each other?

Be attentive to the needs of others. The apostle Paul gave this advice in his letter to the Hebrews: “Do not forget to do good and to share what you have with others, for these sacrifices are very pleasing to God” (Heb. 13:16). What timely words! Shortly after receiving this letter, the brothers in Judea had to leave their homes, their businesses, and their non-Christian relatives, and flee to the mountains (Matt. 24:16). It is clear that at that time it was very important that they help each other. If they had previously put into practice Paul's advice to share what they had, it would be easier for them to get used to their new life.

What can we do to help our brothers? (See cover drawing).

Our siblings may not always tell us what they need. Let's take the case of a brother who becomes a widower. Do you need help with meals, transportation or household chores? Maybe he doesn't say anything because he doesn't want to be a burden. But I'm sure he'd appreciate it if we offered to give him a hand. We should not assume that someone will help him or that he will always tell us what he needs. Let's ask ourselves: “If I were in his place, what things would I appreciate if they did for me?”

What should we do if we want to help others?

Be accessible. Surely in our congregation there are brothers and sisters who are always willing to help others. They never make us feel like we are a burden. On the contrary, we know that we can always count on them, and we want to follow their example. A 45-year-old man named Alan has made it his goal to be accessible. Thinking about the example of Jesus, he says: “Jesus was a busy man, but people of all ages wanted to be with him and did not hesitate to ask him for help. They knew that he truly cared about them. My greatest desire is to be like Jesus and for others to see me as someone who is approachable, loving and attentive.”

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