Regard One Another As More Important Than Yourselves

Regard One Another As More Important Than Yourselves

There is a lot to learn from the life of someone like Caleb, the compatriot of Joshua. He was willing to stand alone for God and when it was necessary, Caleb was persistent and steadfast in his dedication to God. But there is more:

Numbers 14:24

“But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.”

Do you notice anything in that verse that stands out? Look at the reward that God promised to him. Now, ask yourself, who received the benefit of his reward?

It wasn’t Caleb, was it? It was his descendants. That tells us a lot about Caleb as a leader. He was not living his life for his own benefit. He set an example for those who would come after him. Caleb poured himself into the lives of others. It would be Caleb’s descendants that would inherit the land. That is the genius of vision and hope.

Are your eyes focused on you or are you putting others first? Are you living a life that embraces vision and hope? A life that benefits others? Paul once wrote this to the church:

Philippians 2:3-4

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.“

Caleb had eyes of hope and his vision wasn’t limited to thinking of himself. His life benefited future generations. The godliness that he lived planted seeds that the next generation harvested.

People like Caleb make others better. They bring glory to God by investing in others. That is what a great man or woman does. In fact, that’s what God thinks greatness is all about ... making one another better by being a better follower of God.

Philippians 2:5

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”