“For all seek their own things, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:21
What is often behind the anxious attempts to solve our problems is a self-life and flesh that is chronically dissatisfied with everything. It is only occupied with its preferences, desires, and self-centeredness. Paul alludes to this in Philippians 2:19-21: 19 “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-souled, who will genuinely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own things, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” We can be one of two kinds of persons — one who seeks his own things, including being centered on solving our problems for the sake of self, or one who seeks the things of Christ.
A supplied mind asks, Where is Christ in this? What is Christ in this? What is my portion of the Lord in this? The more there is the supply of the Spirit to the mind, the more our attitude, thinking, disposition, inclination, tendencies, even our reactions, are reduced to one thing — to gain Christ. This is a mind-set that is furnished and produced in us by the inner operation of God (Phil. 2:12-13). It is the mind-set to experience Christ, rather than a mind-set to solve problems. We all have problems. We all encounter problems. We will never get away from problems. However, we may be “otherwise minded” in our problems. That is, we may not be pursuing Christ in some areas of our life. Yet Paul assures us in Philippians 3:15 that God will reveal even this to us. Thank God for His condescending mercy. He meets us right where we are.