sharing the wealth

Last post I shared about being wealthy, not from the perspective of money and possessions but from the perspective of the intangible things that contribute to my well being. The inheritance that I received from my parents while I was growing up is of value beyond measure. Last weekend when we were in NY together, I became more aware of some of those things and how they have affected me.

One aspect of that inheritance has to do with the way I view life. Somehow, my parents communicated to me the truth that "the world does not revolve around me". In other words, I grew up being very aware of the larger picture of life. While I always knew that God created me to be uniquely me, I was also very aware that I was part of a larger picture. In other words, my life was meant to live in harmony with others.

So often I see people who seem to think that the world revolves around them. Unfortunately, this attitude is as prevelant in Christians as it is in the rest of society. If anyone ought to know that life is not about me and my desires, it out to be Christians. The pattern of Jesus highlights a life lived with the realization that there is a cause beyond the preservation of self.

Self-centered people never achieve greatness in any way. Their impact on society is minimal. They are frequently victims, always suffering some injustice done to them. They are self-absorbed, rarely noticing other people. Their self-absorbtion causes them to use and abuse people. "Big picture" perspective eludes them since their focus is limited to their own puny existence.

The way of Jesus is one of serving, of pouring out one's life for the benefit of others. The way of Jesus enables one to discern the big picture and how we fit into God's work harmoniously. It is the way of harmony, life, and fruitfulness.  

I thank God that my parents gave me the gift of being "others aware".