It's All About Me
"Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. - Ephesians 5:21
Americans love to watch television reality shows. This has been true ever since the debut of the first reality hit, Survivor. We enjoy watching the contestants scheme, plot, and back-stab their way to the million dollar prize, hoping to avoid being voted off the island by looking out for number one. The winner of this reality show is always the person who best adopts an it's "all-about-me" attitude!
While that may be a successful strategy for playing a TV game, the all-about-me philosophy is devastating to the family. Today, more marriages are terminated in divorce than by the death of a spouse. Thirty-five percent of our nation's children live apart from their biological fathers. That is the real reality of the all-about-me strategy.
Christianity rejects the self-centered attitude and teaches that the winning strategy is really all about submission. We are to first commit to Jesus Christ, and then we are called to submit to Him. As part of that, we are called to submit to our government leaders, employers, and spiritual leaders. While husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loves the church, wives are called to submit to their husbands; and children are called to submit to their parents. And within the family, there is to be mutual submission to one another, seeking the best interests of other members of the family before ourselves.
The really good thing is that when our outlook changes from it's "all-about-me" to it's "all about God and family", there is peace with God and a better chance for peace within our families, and harmony with our fellowman. When that reality is real, we don't just survive--we soar!
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6 Comments
From my experiences with my childrens' activites, I saw so many parents who were so selfish in their parenting and were raising selfish children. Christianity is such a wonderfully logical religion because if we think of, and help others our lives are so much more balanced and fulfilled.
I'd like to thank all of you who comment on this site...I love reading your comments and perspectives.
Have a wonderful, Christ-filled day!! - Melanie
This is something I ponder on a daily basis and probably one reason I never liked reality shows anyway. In fact, it amazes me the success of them and how people will sit around watching them. I can't tell you how much I believe in what is written here and thank you for the great devotion. It's not just reality shows though. You Tube, Myspace and all of that promotes the concept of "It's all about me". It truly amazes me the desperation people will go through to be noticed or stand out. Not realizing that what matters most is your relationship with God, family and yourself. Selfishness is what leads to divorce, unhappiness and turning away from one's spirituality. What happened to compassion and trying to help those not as fortunate as we are???? THAT'S what matters. - Matthew
Well said Melanie and thank you as well for your comments. - Matthew
So true Melanie and Matthew. I think we have to be careful even when doing things for others that we don't even do that for selfish reasons expecting something back. We should not "keep up" with what others do for us in return. We should just go about doing things because it's the right thing to do and because it pleases God and at the same time helps others and makes them feel better. Even if they never repay us, if we do these things for the right reasons God will bless us in ways we don't expect and our "needs" will be taken care of. - Christ follower
It is sad to say this but people has been all about "me" for many years. I guess it is a human trait, but that doesn't make it right. I hate to lose at anything but I thank God that I understand that someone has to be second. Even when we help someone, we have to receive credit or recognition, and this isn't right either. The scriptures teach us not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing. When the Bible speaks of prefering our brother before our self, we need to also realize that in doing this we will receive blessings also. I pray that God will help me to apply this more to my life instead of just telling others how they need to do. I am like most everyone else I enjoy telling everyone else how to live their life but it is a real wake up call when I look into my own heart and I see I need to heed my own advice. It is not about me it is all about Christ. God bless all. - Jerry
That is true Jerry in that people have been like that many years and unfortunately, it takes a major tragedy sometimes to bring people together to help one another. 9/11 was a prime example of this but also things like the flooding in the midwest, Hurricane Katrina etc. Unfortunately, people slide back in to their usual routines and become all about themself once again. Myself included. I really have to do a better job of extending myself to others and helping them. I am starting going back to church this Sunday and can't wait. Looking forward to hearing Bryant Wright's sermons at Johnson Ferry Baptist. - Matthew