Others First

“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things”

Psalms 119:36-37

How quickly my mind turns to selfish gain. We live in a “what’s in it for me”, “me first” culture that’s hard to resist.

After all, we’re told that self preservation is the way of life.

Not so if you’re a follower of Jesus Christ.

His is an “others first”, “death to self”, “humility before honor” mentality. He’s the consummate servant leader.

How does that fit into my life today?

Perhaps it means an unseen act of kindness to my neighbor, like picking up the straying piece of trash.

Or yielding to that driver trying to squeeze into my lane in rush hour traffic.

Sometimes it means foregoing what is rightfully mine. Like that extra five dollars to the waitress who’s trying to make a living for her kid, even though she wasn’t as nice as she could be. Or the right to be respected by the jerk at the hardware store. Do I really have to make a mountain out of a molehill and report him to his manager (no, I didn’t do that, it’s just an example!)? Maybe it’s the right to be told I’m sorry. Isn’t it time to let that hurt go?

Or it’s giving up the right to be recognized despite all my hard work, giving up my right to be honored, even when I’m sure to deserve it.

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things.

I’m surrounded by worthless things. Worthless images that fill my mind if I give in to my right to myself. Countless hours spent in worthless conversations thinking no one is listening. Worthless efforts growing my earthly kingdom that will evaporate in a blink of an eye. Worthless glances at things I don’t have and think will fulfill me leading to days of discontent and unthankfulness. Worthless desires, worthless goals, worthless wants.

God wants more for my life than I want for myself.

It starts with understanding what is of true worth.

It starts by putting others ahead of myself.

I want that kind of life and by God’s grace I’ll do it.

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