Want To Change The World?

1 Corinthians 10:23-24; "I have the right to do anything," you say - but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything" - but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Do you want to change the world? Here is the way to do it. We don't have to have committee meetings, conferences or take a lot of time either; we just have to seek the good of others instead of looking out for number one.

The problem is, most people are too busy looking out for themselves. There is one instance I can think of where it is in your interest to look out for number one first; and this would be in the event of a plane cabin depressurization. When this happens you are instructed to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping those with you, this way you both don't die. But in pretty much every other area of life you could look out for the well being of others first.

What it basically boils down to is selfishness. The definition of selfishness is: 

Concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others.

Arising from concern with one's own welfare or advantage in disregard of others.

Selfishness is something we don't have to learn either, it is inherit in our nature. You see it in children all the time, followed by the phrase, "Mine!" Most of us should have been taught growing up how to overcome these selfish tendencies, but unfortunately a lot of people didn't. How many of you had to share your toys as a child, and liked it? I know I didn't, but with two brothers I was forced to learn. And even though it wasn't fun as a kid, just the simple act of learning to share helped me grow up and not be selfish as an adult.

Jesus even said something similar to what Paul was talking about when He was explaining the greatest commandment. He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength. And a second commandment is also important, Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39. So we should strive above all else to look out to for the good of those around us, and not just looking out for number one if we're going to see change take place in our world.

Today, go look for a way you can help someone else, putting your desires to the side, and let's change the world one person at a time. Well there's that, for the Kingdom and the King!