BE CONCERNED WITH WHAT CONCERNS OTHER PEOPLE

KINGDOM-BE CONCERNED WITH OTHER PEOPLE’S CONCERN

how to get your need met -easily and effortlessly

One of the Christian rules for living is what Paul stated to the Phillipian church.

Phi 2:4 KJV Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

ISV Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.

NET Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

Paul doesn’t tell us that it is wrong to look out for our own interests, but that we should not only look out for our own interests

The Greek word for “look” is “skopeo”. It means: to look at, observe, contemplate, to mark, to fix one’s eyes upon, direct one’s attention to, any one, to look to.

Look not every man on his own things – That is, be not selfish. Do not let your care and attention be wholly absorbed by your own concerns, or by the concerns of your own family. 

Evince a tender interest for the happiness of the whole, and let the welfare of others lie near your hearts. 

This, of course, does not mean that there is to be any improper interference in the business of others, or that we are to have the character of “busy-bodies in other people’s matters” (compare the 2Th 3:11, note; 1Ti 5:13, note; 1Pe 4:15, note); but that we are to regard with appropriate solicitude the welfare of others, and to strive to do them good.

But every man is also on the things of others – It is the duty of every man to do this. No one is at liberty to live for himself or to disregard the wants of others. 

The object of this rule is to break up the narrow spirit of selfishness, and to produce a benevolent regard for the happiness of others. In respect to the rule we may observe:

(1) We are not to be “busybodies” in the concerns of others. A busybody is someone who interferes with others; one who is nosy, intrusive or meddlesome.

 We are not to attempt to pry into their secret purposes. Every man has his own plans, and thoughts, and intentions, which no other one has a right to look into. Nothing is more odious than a meddler in the concerns of others.

(2) we are not to obtrude our advice where it is not sought, or at unseasonable times and places, even if the advice is in itself good. No one likes to be interrupted to hear advice; and I have no right to require that he should suspend his business in order that I may give him counsel.

(3) we are not to find fault with what pertains exclusively to him. We are to remember that there are some things which are his business, not ours;

(4) we are not to gossip about the concerns of others. We are not to hunt up small stories, and petty scandals respecting their families; we are not to pry into domestic affairs, and divulge them abroad, and find pleasure in circulating snell things from house to house

However, while these things are true, it is also true that the rule before us positively requires us to show an interest in the concerns of others; and it may be regarded as implying the following things:

(1) We are to feel that the spiritual interests of everyone in the church is, in a certain sense, our own interest. The church is one. It is confederated together for a common object. Each one is entrusted with a portion of the honor of the whole, and the conduct of one member affects the character of all. We are, therefore, to promote, in every way possible, the welfare of every other member of the church. If they go astray, we are to admonish and entreat them; if they are in error, we are to instruct them; if they are in trouble, we are to aid them. Every member of the church has a claim on the sympathy of his brethren, and should be certain of always finding it when his circumstances are such as to demand it.

CASE STUDY

Gen 40:1-23 KJV 1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. 5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. 7 And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? 8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11 And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. 12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: 13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. 16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: 17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. 20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand: 22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Joseph had been thrown into the prison and had been there for some time. But one day the Bible says the chief Butler and Chief Baker offended their master the king Pharaoh who got them arrested and sent into the prison where Joseph was. It was in the prison where the former boss of Joseph whose name was Portipher had kept Joseph was the same place the two ministers of state were kept.

Joseph was even given charge with them and he served them.

Here is my question. Why were they sent to the place where Joseph was? Why were they not kept in another prison? Ladies and gentlemen, beyond the external reasoning, these two people were sent there because of Joseph.

There are people that God has positioned to help us in life. God sent people to help people. And God always sends them to where you will need them. Can I pray for you? whosoever God has sent to help you in life shall locate you in Jesus name.

One day the two statesmen woke up and they were sad. They had similar dreams in the night, when they woke up there was no one to help interpret the dream. They were bothered. It was written all over their faces. They sat down looking morose. It was at this time that Joseph was passing by for his normal supervisory jobs when he saw them. He greeted them as usual but their response was somehow so he moved closer. He asked them what the matter was. 

There are many of us who would like to mind our own business. We will say please i beg everybody with his own canoe, paddle yours. Joseph was in the prison like them, he had his own concern. He was lied against, sold into slavery, thrown into the prison for no just cause. He could have minded his own business but here we are Joseph asked them to tell him their dreams. He assured them that dream interpretation belongs to God.

He interpreted their dreams and those dreams came to pass. They left the prison.

May your dream come to pass in Jesus name.

But the chief Butler forgot Joseph for two years. So how will Joseph come out of the prison house? How will his long life dream be realized?

In chapter 41:1-7 Pharaoh had a dream of what was about to happen in the land. May your eyes be opened in Jesus name. However, there was no one to interpret the dreams. It was a troublesome time in the palace.

Gen 41:1 KJV And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

Gen 41:8 KJV And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

Ladies and gentlemen, whenever God wants to help people, raise people from the dunghill, bless people, 

When it is the time or your season, nobody can stop it. When it was Mordecai time, the king could not sleep. This is your season.

He uses what we already have like gifts or talents. it was the little oil of the widow that multiplied. It was the rod of Moses that was used. The little flour that the widow of Zarephath had blessed her with.

He raises a need. The essence of the need is to place a demand on the gift, anointing, ability, talent and grace that we have been endowed with.

Life is about meeting needs. In fact you and I were born to solve problems and meet needs. There is a need you were created to meet in life. That is part or whole of God’s purpose for you.

It was at that juncture that the Chief Butler who had long forgotten Joseph remembered him. He began to speak on his behalf. I pray for you people that will recommend you shall manifest in Jesus name.

Gen 41:12 KJV And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

You know the remaining part of the story, Joseph was brought from prison to the palace in less than 24hours. Receive such miracles in Jesus name.

Joseph’s need to get out of the prison was met. And God used the man that he had had an encounter with to be the instrument of release.

When you read the story line down, the chief Butler was cast into the prison. He was destined to be the instrumentality by which Joseph will come out and here he is in the prison. As long as he remains in prison, Joseph will continue to be in prison and his dream will be delayed. Can i pray for you, there are some of us that those who God has destined to help you are in the prison right now. It may not be the physical correctional prison, it may be financial, marital, debt prisons. but as we pray now, they will be let go so that they can fulfil their role in your life in Jesus name.

My father my father as i begin to pray, everyone that has been destined to champion my cause in life, whoever will speak on my behalf, i loose them in Jesus name.

Look at how it took place, Joseph would still have been in the prison because the Butler wouldn’t have known he had such an ability but because Joseph was concerned with the things of other people despite his own problem, his need was met. This week your needs are met in Jesus name.

When you read the story down, the same chief Butler that forgot Joseph was the same man that God used to bring Joseph out of the prison. The good gesture was recompensed.

I am very sure when Joseph was talking to the chief Butler and Chief Baker, that some of the prisoners will be calling him amebo, face your own issue and insult him and ask him to mind his own problem. Here is the take away, it’s when we are concerned with the things of god and the things of others we get our own needs met.

If we keep minding our things and care less about the things of the kingdom and aspire to meet the need of others, we short change ourselves. We prolonged our days of answers and solutions. We need to deny ourselves the joy in seeing others succeed in life, we deny ourselves of being the vessels through which God flows, we deny ourselves of being a blessing and finally we deny heaven of joy.

If Joseph had kept to himself and not been concerned with the other people, there would not have been a way that the chief Butler would know that the young man carried that gift and ability. And so when the opportunity arose in the palace he would not have been able to recommend or remember Joseph.

There are many of us that nobody knows the ability and talent we have been endowed with just because we are not bothered or concerned with what happens to other people like that, so nobody knows what and what we are capable of or the stuff we are made up of.

When the need arises, the people that you have helped will be able to speak on your behalf and recommend you.

There is an ability in you, discover it, develop it and use it for the kingdom and humanity.

1Pe 4:10 KJV As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1Co 12:7 KJV But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Prayers:

My father my father, I place a demand on the ability and gifts in me, let the need for it arise in great places.

I refused to die with the ability of God in me. Myles Murone says the richest place on earth is the graveyard and not Buckingham palace.

There is an ability in me, Ability to speak, sing, pray, heal, counsel other people. This ability manifests in Jesus’ name. Place a call upon it.

Who is your chief Butler? There is somebody you have had an encounter with in the past that is now occupying a great place and has forgotten you but after this encounter he will remember you. What will make him remember you is because there is going to be a demand. Say my father my father, wherever my chief Butler is, manifest and speak up in Jesus name.

Conclusion:  for a similar reason, we should seek the welfare of all others in a spiritual sense. 

  • We should seek to arouse the sinner, and lead him to the Saviour. He is blind, and will not come himself; 
  • unconcerned, and will not seek salvation; 
  • filled with the love of this world, and will not seek a better; devoted to pursuits that will lead him to ruin, and he ought to be apprised of it. 

It is no more an improper interference in his concerns to apprise him of his condition, and to attempt to lead him to the Saviour, than it is to warn a man in a dark night, who walks on the verge of a precipice, of his peril; or to arouse one from sleep whose house is in flames. 

In like manner, it is no more meddling with the concerns of another to tell him that there is a glorious heaven which may be his, than it is to apprise a man that there is a mine of golden ore on his farm.

It is for the man’s own interest, and it is the office of a friend to remind him of these things. 

He does a man a favor who tells him that he has a Redeemer, and that there is a heaven to which he may rise; he does his neighbor the greatest possible kindness who apprises him that there is a world of infinite woe, and tells him of an easy way by which he may escape it. 

The world around is dependent on the church of Christ to be apprised of these truths. 

1Co 10:24 KJV Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

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