Several years ago, when my oldest daughter was just about three or four, my wife took her with her to the store. On that quick trip, my daughter experienced, for the first time, that there are other people who are not as fortunate as we may be.

In this particular case, my daughter saw a man who was missing a leg from the knee down. Later on, at home, she cried for hours about that man. She hurt for him. Even though he may have adapted to his situation and moved one, my daughter’s heart hurt for that man.

Fast forward several years. Now my daughter is a teenager. In our home, we have a map showing where the Gospel has been preached around the world, and shows those areas that have never been exposed to God’s offer of salvation. When I explained to my daughter that one of the main reasons these people groups have never heard the message of the Good News because too few people are willing to go, she replied, with tears in her eyes, “Dad, I’ll go.”

My daughter has learned the value of other people. She understands that each person has been created in God’s image, and that each individual on this planet is infinitely valuable to God, and so they should be valuable to her, and me, as well.

Since God values others, so should we.

My daughter learned this in a grand view of things. But it also is true in the smallest details of life as well.

I have to teach my kids to value others in every aspect of life. My boys have learned not to rush to the front of the line with the other kids when we have church potlucks. My oldest son is making a habit of opening doors for others, including his sisters. My younger children are learning to share their toys with one another, and giving in when things don’t always go their way while playing.

This is exactly what Paul had in mind, I think, when he penned these words in Philippians 2:3-4:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Paul knew that it would be hard for us to do this in the day to day details of life. It’s easy in the big things, because we might get credit for it, becoming known as magnanimous and generous. But in the smallest day to day instances, it can get hard.

It’s hard for me to put my wife’s needs ahead of my own. My nature screams to look out for myself. My nature wants to have things my own way. And our culture and media don’t make things any easier, calling out to us to give in to our selfish desires.

But, if I want to be the best positive influence that I can be in the life of my kids, I have to teach them another way. I have to teach them that they are more in line with God’s will when they consider others ahead of themselves.

And one of the best ways to instill this in them is to model it in my own life.

That can be hard to do.

But it’s extremely necessary.

Your kids need to learn how to value others. And God needs us, and our kids, to honor him with our lives.

So dads, I encourage you, watch your life, in the home, in the car, at the grocery store, or the gas station. Watch how you treat others, how you talk to them, how you talk about them, and how you treat them. Your kids are watching.

Be deliberate, Dad!

How are you doing at putting the needs of others ahead of your own? You can leave your thoughts in the comments by clicking here.