Today’s Post by Rae Lynn DeAngelis
One evening the cable and Internet went out at the same time. I’m embarrassed to admit that I became quite annoyed because I couldn’t engage in my normal evening routine. In my selfish frustration I wondered, did someone cut the lines? How long will the service be out? Will I be able to get online tomorrow?
After some time went by, a service truck pulled up to the end of our driveway, so my husband went out to investigate. When Gerry came back in the house, he informed me that every third house on our street had not only lost cable and Internet service, but their electricity had gone out too. Here I was grumbling about no television, and half my street was without electricity. Things could have been much worse.
I realize this is a minor example, but isn’t this how we often react when things aren’t going our way? We have a pity party for ourselves and fail to realize that there are far greater struggles are going on around us.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
We need to adopt the example left by Jesus, who always focused on others. Jesus commonly gave up creature comforts for Himself, so He could minister to others.
“Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” (Matthew 8:20)
Jesus didn’t even have a place to call home during His three years of ministry. He went from city to town to village, healing the sick, raising the dead, rescuing the lost, and feeding the hungry. Jesus always looked to the needs of those around Him. The apostle Paul wrote, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:5-7)
Having our cable go out was actually a good thing, because it helped me realize my selfish attitude and caused me to reflect on the fact that I need to be more focused on others and less focused on me.
Perhaps you could use this reminder too.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)