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I could call this story “the time self-help really worked,” but that wouldn’t be true. Self-help never did much for me, and I’m skeptical whether it helps anyone in lasting ways. Maybe you’ve had a different experience, though.

I DID eventually find something that continues to change my life. I would never have believed how different my life could be and how much peace I could have.

It all began almost twenty years ago as a penciled-in whim on my self-guided personal improvement plan—or so I thought. By trusting in some time-tested wisdom, I was given revelation and knowledge about myself, life, and my place in the universe. It didn’t appear so profound at the outset, not like anything that would have the power to transform me and profoundly alter my perception of reality. But that is just what it did in my life over time.

I’d been in a season of life searching for “ancient wisdom,” mystical secrets, or seven-step recipes to accelerate my career and personal growth. Like-minded coworkers turned me onto stuff like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and The Art of War, which seemed chock-full of insightful tidbits that I struggled to apply in meaningful ways. I quested on, sure I would find something that worked for me.

In my search for an evolutionary transformation, I was willing to skim whatever dusty old books others had used in past times to propel themselves into glory—even the Bible. I took mine down from a shelf for a look one day and found something that caught my eye. I was thumbing through it when I found written in Philippians chapter 2, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” I snorted, but something in those words spoke to me. I would not have admitted it, but I found it laughable that I should “count others (as) more significant (than me).” Back then, I lived for myself and my big, vague plans. But reading that text, I felt a twinge in my heart. It seemed to be… true.

I wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the Bible. I’d read some of it as a kid and knew all the big stories from Sunday School. I’d tried reading it as an adult but tended to skip large sections, which, as it turns out, are the essential parts like most of the New Testament, the Gospels, and anything directly related to Jesus. I didn’t think I liked him that much.

I’d come to peg Jesus as being an ancient Hippie. Many hippies ran around with long hair, beards, and sandals when I was growing up. Some even talked about “peace and love,” though I don’t think they had God in mind. Then, there was how Jesus was portrayed in “Godspell,” who appeared to be a clownish Hippie fool. I’m sure it wasn’t intended as a faithful portrayal of the actual Son of God, but tell that to my four-year-old self. My view of him was very distorted.

I was raised by parents who were a suburban, weekend variety of Hippies that hadn’t wholeheartedly tuned in, turned on, and dropped out. Something in their lifestyle turned me off. I identified more with the clean-cut, groomed, and polite side of Americana portrayed in the million-plus hours of TV and cartoons I watched as a kid. Archie Bunker and others left their mark on me. I soon disliked and distrusted folks who preferred denim and tie-dyed clothing.

Since Jesus was, in my mind, King of the Hippies, I wanted nothing to do with him. Which was a problem, given how often my parents brought us to church. And not just any church, but a Pentecostal church that didn’t like the Hippies very much, either. No wonder I was confused.

But that didn’t stop me from reading the Bible sometimes. The authorized King James version, thank you, because that’s what they used at church. I tried to read the “Good News For Modern Man” version, but it confused me. What was the point of a Bible that wasn’t in the King’s vernacular?

I remember countless hours of fidgeting on wooden pews in church. I passed the time by reading the few good parts of the Good Book. I preferred anything weird, such as the imagery of Revelation and parts of Ezekiel and Isaiah. Dragons, plagues, swords, angels, demons… Anything to distract me from the sermon and the polyester adults with their praising and shouting.

So, I was surprised when I stumbled onto that gleaming nugget in the text as an adult. It shouldn’t have caught my eye; there wasn’t a sword or dragon on the page, and in a book with such a boring name as “Philippians,” but I typed and printed out that verse and hung it on the grim, gray wall of my office cubicle.

Sometimes, amid grandiose corporate wrangling, I’d notice those words hanging there—usually while I was on the phone and my mind was drifting. The words would creep into view, and I’d wonder how to apply them.

I was on a business call one afternoon, waiting for a pause in the mouth sounds from the handset when those printed words from Philippians caught my eye. “Consider others as more significant…” Yeah, right.

But then, an idea derailed my train of thought. Instead of verbally barraging my caller, as I intended, what about actually TRYING to see them as being more significant than myself… worthy of my patience and understanding?

“Yes, I agree with you,” I found myself replying on the call instead of cutting them down with my words. Then inspiration struck. “Why don’t I come over there and let’s see if we can work this out.” And I did just that, which led to us working together to solve the issue successfully.

And that’s how it started, with those words from the Bible coming alive. I wondered afterward if maybe I was suffering some silly kind of mental breakdown. But reading words from the Bible and applying them wouldn’t seem to stop. It led to me politely helping people when I could. Which, I’m ashamed to admit, was uncharacteristic. It was sometimes unnerving being so far out of my comfort zone. I even found myself cutting back on drinking.

Then, another challenge arose. I thought there had been another verse near that first one in Philippians, so I dug the Bible out again. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Now, that was just plain odd. Why would anyone want to do that? I was already helping people and answering questions. After all, I was a team player. I would help when asked or noticed an opportunity to correct someone.

Since applying the first verse had worked out well, I decided to give it a shot, to look for opportunities to help others, whether or not there was anything in it for me. So, during breaks or when work was slow, I’d stroll around the office and help whoever I could.

The downside was that I began encountering problems and situations beyond my experience or skills. It was humbling to admit when I didn’t have the answer or know-how. I learned to turn those situations into opportunities for growth and would research and study in areas where I was weak. I’d later revisit people to see if I could then help with my new knowledge.

Things began changing in my job. My role required interaction with many other people and teams, though it had brought much friction and little fruit in the past. We began to make progress together, which was unusual for our corporate culture. I received recognition for going above and beyond, which felt good but was a surprise. More surprising was that I was changing, becoming more like the person I wanted to be, though not by the means I’d expected.

God had used those two verses to pry open my heart and begin his work in me. He instilled in me a willingness to try putting into practice what I’d read from the Bible. A Psalm in it speaks of “taste and see that the Lord is good,” and that’s what I’d done. God is indeed good, and I thank and praise Him. But He wasn’t done with me and had more planned.

I went through difficult times in the season that followed. I found myself at a dark, hopeless place in my life that brought me to the brink of death. But God knew what would come, that I’d need Him. In despair, I reached desperately for the hope that He had revealed and cried out for help.

God heard me, answered, and saved my life. I was shocked at his love and how He showed up, helped, and revealed his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to me.

It all began with just two verses.

I encourage you to seek the One who is the source of all life and everything good. God is near and willing to help with whatever you’re facing. Take it from a poor wretch God rescued from darkness and death; Jesus Christ saves, heals, and delivers those who earnestly call on him.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16–17 (NIV)