Interest In Others

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Philippians 2:3-4

Many times I learn God’s life lessons the hard way, but I can say without exaggeration that every time I do things God’s way instead of my selfish way, I feel better inside and end up having a lot more fun. Doing things God’s unselfish way makes a big difference, especially in our relationships with other people.

Take marriage, for instance. When I compare our before-marriage dates with our after-marriage dates, I tease my husband that my pleasure truly seems to give him pain. You see, I want to experience all that an occasion has to offer. At dinner I want the appetizer, dessert and coffee, and everything in between. At a ball game I want the people, the weather, the hot dog, popcorn, drink, and then the event. On the other hand, my husband wisely wants to enjoy a dinner date without breaking our budget, and at a ball game he is interested only in the game.

Before marriage, these differences weren’t even visible through my brand-new-in-love gaga eyes, but they shine bright and glaring during the after-marriage dates! Honestly, I usually have my own interests in mind, but when I consider his interests, that unselfishness proves to be a far more enjoyable relationship builder!

God made us all so different. He does not tell us that we are not to look after our own interests, but He exhorts us to take an interest in others, too. We’re not to be selfish and try to impress people, but instead we ought to think of them as even better than ourselves!

Initiate a sweet date with your spouse or friend and do what he or she wants to do. Celebrate God-given relationships!