Today’s devotional, the 4th day of Pastor Rick Warren’s Essentials For Living, was very powerful just in it’s title alone, “The World Doesn’t Revolve Around You!” Wow!! How many of us need to hear that right now? How many of us have said that to someone else, our spouse or children maybe, and never turned the phrase back on ourselves? Hmmmmm
The world we live in today has taught us to believe that it is about us and what we deserve. This type of thinking has moved us further away from who God has called us to be. It moves us away from taking care of each other and showing the love for each other that God shows to us. It moves us away from caring for each other.
The devotional highlighted two basic truths about life.
First, the world does not revolve around you. You’re very special in God’s eyes, and you were created for a purpose – but the world does not revolve around you.
When I look at my own life I admit there are times where I think it should be all about me. In those times I get negative or throw myself a pity party. Why aren’t they listening to me? Why can’t we do what I want to do? On and on it goes. And throughout all of this me, me, me thinking I forget all about the loved ones around me. How are they feeling? What are they thinking? What am I now missing out on? Are they feeling loved right now?
Second, God has promised that when you focus on meeting the needs of other people, he will meet your needs. Why? Because he wants you to learn to be unselfish. He wants you to learn to be loving and generous like him.
We have seen this first hand in particular with the work we are doing with The Attic. For those that may not know, The Attic is a ministry we started in our church to help those in need by providing free items to them. I think our entire Attic family can attest to how amazing it feels when we give or ourselves to help someone in need. It truly is a gift that keeps on giving. The more you help the better you feel and then you want to help even more. It’s who God made us to be, not the selfish people we are portrayed to be today.
The bible says it perfectly, “Look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own” (Philippians 2:4 TEV). So whose interests are you looking out for? Does it align with what God is calling you to do? If not, let’s fix it today!
Truth In Love ~ Chuck