March 21 Self or Others?

Esther 8:16-17 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
 
ARE you in relationships to serve and love yourself or to serve and love others? Perhaps, as an example, you chose to approve of everything your dad did and said because he had the car keys. Maybe you have often chosen to compromise your values, so you can have friends. Did you join a church because it was the most comfortable from your perspective? Is your marriage about, “What do I get from this?”
    In these examples, you are prone to be one who emotionally takes from others. You give to others only as it will benefit you.
    This sounds harsh, doesn’t it? But often, it seems, this is how we act. Disunity occurs in all forms of relationships. Certainly I can think of too many times I have been (still am) too self-focused to consider others. Humility, submission and obedience have been displaced with impatience and arrogance as I’ve insisted and persisted to draw people to my point of view.
    Certainly our relationship with God is often self-directed. Even when we say, “I’m saved.” we can be thinking, “What will you do for me, God?” In contrast, our God-focused approach to our salvation must be, “What, Lord, will you have me do for you?”  
    As the Jews received permission to fight back when attacked, the non-Jews in Persia formed a “yourself” relationship with the Jews. Suddenly the non-Jews’ lives were in jeopardy. In response, they became Jews not to worship the living God but to save themselves. Fear for their lives motivated many non-Jews to say, “I’m saved as one of you.”
    Yes, in some respects, we can see this as wisdom. After all, why would you oppose those who could harm you? Why wouldn’t you side with people who could get you want you want?
    But let’s ask these questions to those who are martyred for Christ. Men and women throughout history and today are dying for their faith. They live Jesus-focused lives, asking, “What, Lord, will you have me do for you?”   
    They see life from an eternal perspective. Such suffering saints recognize that a true relationship with Jesus comes in an unwavering focus on Jesus. Eternal life is the only life to be preserved. Such devoted Christians live into a Jesus-focused relationship. In full joy, faith and love they declare, “I am Jesus’ own. Now and forever.” Then they live and even die in their devotion.
     Are you wondering why it’s difficult for you to have good relationships? Perhaps you could ask yourself, “Am I in relationships to serve and love myself – or to serve and love others?”
 
Prayer: Lord God, teach me to love you and to love others as myself. In Jesus’ name, amen.