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Put others first
'BE HUMBLE...CONSIDER OTHERS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURSELVES.' PHILIPPIANS 2:3
A man bought a new TV and some of his neighbours were helping him install the aerial on the roof. They weren't making much headway until a new guy showed up with a big fancy toolbox and finished the job in a flash. As they stood around congratulating themselves, they asked the new neighbour what he made with such fancy tools. Grinning, he replied, 'Friends, mostly!' Unfortunately that kind of helpful behaviour has stopped being the norm in our world today: selfishness has become standard procedure. The Bible says: 'As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed...self-promoting...dog-eat-dog...the kind...who smooth-talk...and take advantage' (2 Timothy 3:1-6 TM).
Have you noticed any of that lately? Is your dad (or mum) prone to a bit of road rage or have you seen shoppers in the checkout line elbowing and pushing one another to save 30 seconds or people on a packed bus letting an elderly person stand instead of offering them a seat?
The principle of putting others first didn't originate from a nice person who was just having a really good day! It came directly from the God who inspired Paul to write, 'Be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves.' Jesus Himself said, 'Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb...Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them' (Matthew 7:12 TM).
So next time somebody is rude to you or treats you with less respect and consideration than you expect, instead of getting really annoyed and retaliating, use it as a great opportunity to practice putting them first.
written by Bob Gass
'BE HUMBLE...CONSIDER OTHERS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURSELVES.' PHILIPPIANS 2:3
A man bought a new TV and some of his neighbours were helping him install the aerial on the roof. They weren't making much headway until a new guy showed up with a big fancy toolbox and finished the job in a flash. As they stood around congratulating themselves, they asked the new neighbour what he made with such fancy tools. Grinning, he replied, 'Friends, mostly!' Unfortunately that kind of helpful behaviour has stopped being the norm in our world today: selfishness has become standard procedure. The Bible says: 'As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed...self-promoting...dog-eat-dog...the kind...who smooth-talk...and take advantage' (2 Timothy 3:1-6 TM).
Have you noticed any of that lately? Is your dad (or mum) prone to a bit of road rage or have you seen shoppers in the checkout line elbowing and pushing one another to save 30 seconds or people on a packed bus letting an elderly person stand instead of offering them a seat?
The principle of putting others first didn't originate from a nice person who was just having a really good day! It came directly from the God who inspired Paul to write, 'Be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves.' Jesus Himself said, 'Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb...Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them' (Matthew 7:12 TM).
So next time somebody is rude to you or treats you with less respect and consideration than you expect, instead of getting really annoyed and retaliating, use it as a great opportunity to practice putting them first.
written by Bob Gass
