Allow

Allow

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

IT STARTED SMALL in our congregation. Little whispers about how loud the music was, how much one person wished we would sing more hymns, be more traditional. Then another person chimed in with their opinion that we should only use contemporary music, because that was what they liked best.

The situation escalated until some harsh words had been spoken, causing hurt feelings all the way around. Everyone became preoccupied with sharing their own personal preferences, unwilling to make allowances for the preferences of others. They wanted the worship team and pastor to choose a side. Some people left, indignant. Others stayed.

Looking back, what I am most struck by is not who was more right or wrong in the situation, but by the desire for one’s personal preference to be seen as more worthy than another. There was a complete resistance to see and respond to someone else’s interests. On both sides, an individual’s own desires and what that person preferred became paramount, without any consideration of another’s thoughts or feelings.

I would love to say that this is an unusual occurrence, but I know that it is not. I would also love to say that I have never been someone to put my own desires for what I want above another person’s, but I know that isn’t true as well.

Although the world may say we should look out for ourselves and our own desires first, as followers of Christ, this shouldn’t be. We are asked to be countercultural, keeping in mind the interests of others and not just our own interests, likes, or preferences. It takes maturity and wisdom to know the difference between the things worthwhile to take a stand for, and what is worth letting go of our own personal interests for someone else’s preference. We should be the first ones in a group willing to make allowances for the desires of someone else, graciously putting aside our own preferences to allow another to feel welcomed, heard, and even loved.

Lord, help me to see and consider the interests of others, graciously making allowances for another’s preferences and not just my own. Amen.

-Kendra

One Good Step: Make allowances to accommodate someone else and their preferences over your own today.