Bridge of Hope Ministries

LIFE ISSUES Ethic of Reciprocity By Kim Brawley From the time we are young, we say, I want to be first. We excitedly yell, Pick me! As we get older, we say, Well, what about me? Our inborn sin nature screams, Me! Me! Me! In adulthood, some leave this selfishness unchecked and take it to extremes. They become a narcissist, a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves. ... I heard a quote this week by Thomas Sowell that is very fitting. You would be more upset if an accident caused you to lose the tip of your little finger than if you heard a million people in China were murdered today. That is so true for almost all of us! It is much easier to be selfish than selfless. We are told in Philippians to, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phillippians 2:3-5) Take a look at yourself in your natural environment, the people you are around like your family, friends or coworkers and ask, How do I think of others? Do I give eye contact when someone speaks to me? Do I call my mom or dad to check on them or to see about their day? Do I initiate and engage in conversations when I am in social settings? Do I ask my spouse or children about their day? Have I ever dropped by someone’s house just to visit? Think about this. Have you ever wished someone would think of you? Have you ever tried to speak to someone, but they were too busy to look at you? Have you ever waited by the phone for it to ring? Have you ever sat alone at a party with no one to talk with? Do you wish you could tell someone about your day? Have you ever wished someone would drop by to visit with you? Nothing becomes important until it becomes personal. Many times the things that we desire are the very things that others desire. When we feel the loss, the pain, the loneliness, then we can better understand how others feel. Take the very desires that you have and turn them around to think of others. Many times in our acts of service to others, we find that our own need has been fulfilled. Yes, God can use even our weaknesses of selfishness for His glory! The Golden Rule or ethic of reciprocity is Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)