Do you ever get preoccupied with yourself? Glad to hear I’m not the only one! It’s tough because we have a culture that pushes us to be self-focused people who are so busy with our noses stuck in our BlackBerrys and iphones that we have no time for other people. We have become electronically proficient and relationally challenged.
I really think one of the chronic problems on this little ball of dirt we call “earth” is self-focus! I’m not against “me time”, but come on, seriously, just how much “me time” do we really need? Now I understand that we all need to take a break every once in a while and rest. (Jesus did…He broke away from the heard just to spend quality time with the Father while recharging His batteries.) But I suspect some need to take a break from “me time.” Selfishness abounds in our society, and we shouldn’t contribute to this epidemic of narcissism. Over and over in the gospels I read about a Jesus who was fully human and yet fully giving His time and energy to others, and we must follow His lead.
This same “me” focus must have been going on in the church when the great Apostle Paul was around because he wrote in a letter to the Christ-followers in Philippi,
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (2:4)
Do you see the balance presented in this verse? Yes, we do have personal interests that need attention, but our attention also needs to be given over to the interests of others. Time is probably the key ingredient in this formula for balance. People need our time; people need to know we genuinely care. One sure way of showing people we care is our willingness to give them some of our time. Indeed, it is a difficult balance to strike, but let’s not be guilty of stealing time away from others when they really need it.
I believe the world is filled with everyday, struggling, working, fearful human beings, who, on any given morning are even afraid to get out of bed because of what might happen. Your time could make all the difference in the world to somebody. Open yourself up for opportunities to look out for the interests of others this week.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
I really think one of the chronic problems on this little ball of dirt we call “earth” is self-focus! I’m not against “me time”, but come on, seriously, just how much “me time” do we really need? Now I understand that we all need to take a break every once in a while and rest. (Jesus did…He broke away from the heard just to spend quality time with the Father while recharging His batteries.) But I suspect some need to take a break from “me time.” Selfishness abounds in our society, and we shouldn’t contribute to this epidemic of narcissism. Over and over in the gospels I read about a Jesus who was fully human and yet fully giving His time and energy to others, and we must follow His lead.
This same “me” focus must have been going on in the church when the great Apostle Paul was around because he wrote in a letter to the Christ-followers in Philippi,
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (2:4)
Do you see the balance presented in this verse? Yes, we do have personal interests that need attention, but our attention also needs to be given over to the interests of others. Time is probably the key ingredient in this formula for balance. People need our time; people need to know we genuinely care. One sure way of showing people we care is our willingness to give them some of our time. Indeed, it is a difficult balance to strike, but let’s not be guilty of stealing time away from others when they really need it.
I believe the world is filled with everyday, struggling, working, fearful human beings, who, on any given morning are even afraid to get out of bed because of what might happen. Your time could make all the difference in the world to somebody. Open yourself up for opportunities to look out for the interests of others this week.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
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