In his best-selling book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” Rick Warren starts with a simple statement that can change lives in an amazing way. The first line of his book says: “It’s not about me.” There has never been a more fulfilling act by anyone than to think of others first. Considering others before yourself always helps one to find their purpose.
The person in history that taught us to think of other first was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus left a wonderful place called heaven that was free of trouble and pain to live in a world cursed with trouble and pain. During a relatively short life, He taught us what it means to think about others. As He went about doing good, Jesus met the needs of everyone that would let Him. His life was about others, not Himself.
Jesus said this in the Gospel of John: “I am come that you might have life and that more abundantly.” We are taught in our society that we need to look out for ourselves first and not others. We are taught that life is about us. I have found that serving oneself becomes very boring and unfulfilling. The best and most purposeful times of my life have been those spent serving others rather than seeking to be served.
Jesus often told stories to illustrate Biblical truth and the story of the Good Samaritan. Luke 19:30-37 contains one of many stories about how we are to think of others first and build our life around that fact. In verse 33, a Samaritan saw the man that had been robbed and had compassion on him.
But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion on him. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Jesus said the Samaritan was a neighbor to the man who had been robbed. It seems the Samaritan put his life on hold to minister to a fellow man. Whatever his mission was, it was put on the back burner while he took care of a man in need.
Jesus said we can find purpose in life that is lasting by meeting the needs of our fellow man. We are to spend our lives caring for others. Our focus should be on the pain and suffering around us. We should make every effort to make better the lives of those we encounter in our world.
This month find ways of doing random acts of kindness for your fellow man, and see if doing a small act for someone else doesn’t make you feel better about yourself.
