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Bible Studies for Life Lesson for June 25: See Their Worth
David Crowther, pastor, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Pittsboro
June 13, 2017
2 MIN READ TIME

Bible Studies for Life Lesson for June 25: See Their Worth

Bible Studies for Life Lesson for June 25: See Their Worth
David Crowther, pastor, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Pittsboro
June 13, 2017

Focal passage: 2 Samuel 11:1-9, 14-17

All of us have a tendency to think we are the center of the universe.

The self-absorption each of us has with ourselves explains the popularity of social media. Yet, the worst self-absorption is the kind that allows a person to value their own pleasure or interest at the expense of others. In 2 Samuel 11, we find that even David, a man after God’s own heart, was guilty of such an attitude.

David looked from his palace roof upon the housetops below where he saw a beautiful woman bathing (2 Samuel 11:2).

First, David was not viewing Bathsheba as another person with feelings, emotions and a family but as a sexual object that he could use for his own pleasure.

Second, David allowed his own desires to outweigh his responsibilities to his neighbor, his God and as king.

When David learned that Bathsheba was the wife of one of his trusted soldiers, this did not prevent him from bringing her to his bedroom (2 Samuel 11:3-4).

In a situation that continued to spiral downhill, David acted against Uriah by taking his wife and, eventually, his life (2 Samuel 11:14-17). The story is a sad and sobering reminder that all of us, no matter how much we love Jesus, can fail to see others as God sees them.

On the other hand, Christ, although He is the true center of the universe, chose to act in the interest of others. Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life – a ransom for many.”

Rather than seeing others as objects to be used, God saw even in sinful humans valuable souls to be loved and cherished.

Paul reminds us that all of us are to emulate Christ’s sacrificial act in the way we treat and view others: “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

When we see others as Christ sees them, we will chose to act in their best interest. To start, it will mean that we see others at least as valuable and human as ourselves and practice the “Golden Rule.”