Best.. or, better?
January 27, 2012
Would you rather be the best, or make things better?
When I am the best, focus is centered on me. I get the credit for accomplishments. My pride is fueled by all that I can do. I look at others as if their ability is far less than my own. I am irreplaceable, and no one has the ability to rule my kingdom. I sit on my personal throne of knowledge, accomplishment, success, and easily rise above the crowd. When I am the best, what becomes of others?
What if my desire is not to become the best but rather to seek to make things better? For things to be better, my eyes are not focused on me. Instead, I look around seeing others and their needs. The question becomes, “What can they do? Are they achieving and becoming all that God made them to be? What is it that I can do to build up others so they experience success?”
In the workplace or even at home with our families, what should be our goal? If each of us strives to be the best, what is created? Or, is it better to strive to make things better seeing a bigger picture outside of self? It’s not an easy question to consider. What is it that God calls each of us to do for success? What does success look like? How do you define success? What brings glory to God?
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thessalonians 5:11-18 NIV)
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:1-4 NIV)
