Three men were traveling by car to an out-of-town engagement. One of them said: “Hey, we’ve been on the road for over four hours, don’t you think its time to stop somewhere to eat?” The driver said: “Yes, I’m hungry too, but can we stop somewhere where we can get something cheap? We’re paying for our son’s college education and frankly its drained our finances and we can’t afford too many things.” The man on the passenger side said: “Oh how I wish my son would want to go to college.” To that, the man in the back seat replied: “Boy, how I wish I had a family.” After he heard that, the driver felt ashamed that he had complained about having to pay for his son’s education and said: “You guys choose where you want to eat; I’ll pay.”
Very few people are willing to admit it but our basic human instinct is to grumble, complain, and be selfish. If anybody wants to protest and say I’m not like that, you may be 50%right. You may be thinking “I’m not selfish because Jesus lives in my heart.” If that’s the case, good for you. Nevertheless, because God knows how easy it is for us to forget who we are from time to time, He chose to put this word of advice in the bible: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others.” (Philippians 2:4) In other words, don’t be selfish and never think you’re the only one who has troubles.
I was reminded of this issue earlier this morning. I remembered that yesterday afternoon, I was upset that my wife and I missed a traffic light cycle because we had to pull over and get out of the way of a fire truck behind us. Then I heard this morning about the young fireman who lost his life in a fire last night in San Antonio. I felt ashamed and even more convicted when I saw the heartbreaking images of his fellow firefighters standing in a row saluting him as his ambulance took him away. I’m pretty sure I will remember that the next time I see a fire truck racing to a call. Think hard: the last time you grumbled or complained about somebody or some situation, was it justified? I thought so.
God’s word for today: (Isaiah 53:6) “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him (Christ) the iniquity of us all.”
