Living for Others By Paul Chappell Thursday, May 8, 2014 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:1-3 In his book The Friendship Factor, Alan McGinnis related a story from the life of the great singer Marian Anderson. She was asked about the greatest moment of her life, and another musician named Sol Hurok was there and overheard the conversation. Hurok said: “I knew she had many big moments to choose from. There was the night Toscanini told her that hers was the finest voice of the century. There was the private concert she gave at the White House for the Roosevelts and the King and Queen of England. To top it all, there was that Easter Sunday in Washington when she stood beneath the Lincoln statue and sang for a crowd of 75,000, which included Cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices, and most members of Congress.” Which of those big moments did she choose? “None of them,” said Hurok. “Miss Anderson told the reporter that the greatest moment of her life was the day she went home and told her mother she wouldn’t have to take in washing anymore.” The gifts and talents that God gives to us are not meant to bring praise and glory to us. Instead they are meant to be used for His glory and for the benefit of others. When we allow ourselves to become self-focused, we miss out on so much good that we could be doing. If we think of ourselves as better than others, we will never love and serve them in a manner that shows God’s love to them. Today’s Renewal Principle: The greatest things we accomplish both in this life and for eternity are the things we do for others rather than for ourselves.
Posted on: Thu, 08 May 2014 12:20:44 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015