It’s Not Just About You!!

In this age, we see selfishness abounding. Concern for other people seems many times to be a lost art. People are only concerned about themselves and what concerns them. We see this in our country where government is concerned. People do not want taxes to increase, and yet they want the government to continually pay for what concerns them. One person’s concern may be that libraries are being closed, because they use the library. The person across the street has never been to a library and couldn’t care less if they closed, but they visit the art gallery every week. These art gallery people picket the government to keep the art galleries open, because it concerns them.

Now here is the government trying to balance a budget in these hard times. If they choose to save money closing libraries, the library group is up in arms. If they close an art gallery, the art gallery people are upset. Then they also complain about the government spending too much money. We all expect the money to be there for what concerns us and only us. I think we need a reality check.

I have a young man in my life who I love dearly. He is only three years old. My husband and I played some board games with him a few days ago. We played Candy Land and Snakes & Ladders. However, we found that if our little guy was not out in front, he would get upset. The game was not fun for him, if he was not winning. My husband did such a great job of trying to change this attitude by saying things like, “Oh, look. Auntie Roxy got Grandma Nutt! I’m so happy Roxy gets to move ahead on the board!” When my husband won, I would say, “Honey, I’m so glad for you. You played the game so well!”

But our little guy was having none of it, so eventually, we moved on to his favorite, playing hockey. After he went home, I thought of how I could help him see how games are not just all about him winning. I want him to learn that it’s okay to lose a game as long as you play your best. I’m going to talk to him about how God loves each of us. Pretend we were playing a game with another young boy across the street. We don’t know what is going on in that young boy’s life that day. Maybe he is sad today because of something that happened to him. God loves both of you, but He knows the other boy needs something good in his life today, so He lets him win the game. We need to be happy for the successes of others, not just for our own. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not (merely) his own interests, but also each for the interests of others”.

Can you imagine a world where it is not always all about you? Caring about others can be one of the greatest blessings. The Bible tells us in Acts 20:35b that, “It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive”.

We also expect the government to pay for everything in our lives that we think we need or want. We read in II Thessalonians 3:10b that “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat”. God expects us to work for our own needs and wants. We are not to depend on anyone else for our care. We are not even to owe anything to anyone. Romans 13:8a tells us “Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another”. So we are to love our fellow man and make him a priority just as we make ourselves a priority, but we are not to owe anything to anyone, except to love. That is something we owe to our fellow man- to love him.

Every day we must consider how our words and actions are going to affect others. It’s not just all about you! The feelings, emotions, and well-being of others matters, too. You are not the only one on this planet who matters. Be very careful to make sure you consider the other people around you. They matter to God as much as you do. Romans 2:11 tells us, “For God shows no partiality (undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another)”. You are loved so much by God, but remember, God loves the guy next to you every bit as much!!