What would an “others focused” life look like? What if your life looked like that? What would that mean for your family, friends and neighbors? If we use the biblical definition of neighbor Christ uses in Luke chapter 10 what would this mean for the world? What if the 900 million or so evangelical christians in the world had “others focused” lives?
You may have seen around Facebook the various posts about if American Christians as a whole gave 10% of their income it would be enough to eradicate world hunger or translate the bible into every language or (shameless plug) fully fund every missionary. And if 1 family from every church adopted a child from the american foster care system america would have no more orphans. Those are just some of the benefits provided to the world if we had “others focused” lives.
But that is a macro look, what about a micro look at things. What if you had an “others focused” life? How would that affect your family, coworkers, friends and neighbors? How might that transform your community, or just your commute? Imagine the reduction in road rage if we just slowed down enough to let people merge, even those who wait till the last possible second so they can get a couple car lengths ahead.
You know we have an example of an “others focused” life. Jesus Christ displayed this kind of life for us. His “others focused” life centered around being focused on God first, as we see in Matthew chapter 4 and John chapter 17 and all throughout his life and ministry. I realize Christ was perfect and the Son of God but nowhere in scripture does it say “Christ is the example but you don’t have to follow his example because he was perfect and the Son of God and your not.” Quite the opposite actually, Christ promised His followers the Holy Spirit who counsels, teaches and enables us to follow Jesus example of an “others focused” life. If Christ’s “others focused” life changed the world how much more would all of our 900 million “others focused” lives impact it? Just some food for thought.
You may have seen around Facebook the various posts about if American Christians as a whole gave 10% of their income it would be enough to eradicate world hunger or translate the bible into every language or (shameless plug) fully fund every missionary. And if 1 family from every church adopted a child from the american foster care system america would have no more orphans. Those are just some of the benefits provided to the world if we had “others focused” lives.
But that is a macro look, what about a micro look at things. What if you had an “others focused” life? How would that affect your family, coworkers, friends and neighbors? How might that transform your community, or just your commute? Imagine the reduction in road rage if we just slowed down enough to let people merge, even those who wait till the last possible second so they can get a couple car lengths ahead.
You know we have an example of an “others focused” life. Jesus Christ displayed this kind of life for us. His “others focused” life centered around being focused on God first, as we see in Matthew chapter 4 and John chapter 17 and all throughout his life and ministry. I realize Christ was perfect and the Son of God but nowhere in scripture does it say “Christ is the example but you don’t have to follow his example because he was perfect and the Son of God and your not.” Quite the opposite actually, Christ promised His followers the Holy Spirit who counsels, teaches and enables us to follow Jesus example of an “others focused” life. If Christ’s “others focused” life changed the world how much more would all of our 900 million “others focused” lives impact it? Just some food for thought.