“Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

— Philippians 2:4

Did you ever hear of the great lesson learned by John D. Rockefeller, Sr., founder of the Rockefeller dynasty? By the time he was 33, he had become a millionaire. By the age of 53, he had become the world’s first billionaire. He was the richest man in all the world. But Drs. S. E. McMillan and David E. Stern, in their book None of These Diseases, say that Rockefeller had traded his happiness and his health for his wealth.

Rockefeller had developed a condition called Alopecia, and as a result lost all of his hair. He looked like a mummy. Although he made a million dollars a week, a biographer says that he enjoyed absolutely nothing. He had lost his appetite and his sleep.

Then one night he realized that he was going to die soon, and he couldn’t take his wealth with him. That hit him like a bolt right out of the blue. He became totally depressed and overwhelmed. But then he had a brilliant idea.

Being a practical man, the next morning he got up and began to put his idea into practice. He started giving away money systematically. This focus on others caused a major turnaround. He eventually lived to 97.

He was living a happy life because he had simply made a discovery of that which Jesus told us long ago: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Rockefeller had learned to think of someone else other than just himself.

Father God, Giver of all gifts, give me strength for today to live a generous life today and to give of myself. Let Your generosity inspire me to also give generously to others…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH
WE CAN BE GENEROUS.

“For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.”

— Philippians 2:20

If you really want to stand out, think about others instead of just yourself. Most people do the opposite.

Years ago, a telephone company made a detailed study of telephone conversations to find out which word is the most frequently used. It is the same word that is most used in daily conversations. It is the word “I.” It was used 3,990 times in 500 telephone conversations. “I.” “I.” “I.” “I.” “I.” People think about themselves morning, noon, and after dinner, too, said Dale Carnegie.

On an airplane one time I sat next to a tennis pro. We had a very interesting conversation. I talked at length about her tennis, and she was very interested. Then I changed the subject and boom—her interest rate dropped to zero, instantly. I switched the subject back to her and immediately the dial went up to 100 again. She reminded me of “Edith,” a lady someone described as “a small country bounded on the north, east, south and west by Edith.”

There is not too great a market out there for your complaints. Someone said that you and I will discover that about 50 percent of the people don’t care what is wrong with you and the other 50 percent think you are getting what you deserve anyway.

In Christ, we are called to a life of unselfishness. Instead of “looking out for number one,” we are told to put others’ interest ahead of our own. May God free us from our selfishness.

Self-existing God, You made us for Yourself and You made us to make life better for each other. Help me today to take the focus off myself and my problems and to focus on the people You put in my path…

IN GOD’S STRENGTH, WE
CAN FOCUS ON OTHERS.

“A man who has friends must show himself friendly.”

— Proverbs 18:24

Some people may wonder why they have so few friends. But the Bible says to have friends, you must be a friend.

Dale Carnegie in his famous book How To Win Friends and Influence People said this: “Why should people be interested in you unless you are first interested in them?”

A well-known maxim puts it this way:

I went out to find a friend,
but could not find one there.
I went out to be a friend,
and friends were everywhere.

Carnegie said that the greatest lesson he ever learned about human relations, he learned in his youth from a dog named “Tippy,” a little yellow-haired dog with a stub tail. When Tippy would see him coming, he would run up to him, his short stubby tail wagging so hard that his whole body was wagging. He would lick his hands and run around his ankles and want to be petted. He was so genuinely friendly to Carnegie that he just could not possibly keep from petting that little dog. Tippy knew a great lesson, a great secret about relationships. He had no lack of friends because he showed himself friendly.

Show yourself friendly; think about others. Instead, we are so eager to go out and wigwag people into being impressed with us, thinking they will then be our friends. People couldn’t care less about that.

It is good to make friends, especially those whom we can build up in Christ. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Triune God, You who created us for fellowship with You and with each other, I thank You today for my friends. Help me to be a good friend to those You have placed in my life…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN
BE A GOOD FRIEND TODAY.

“Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things.”

— Philippians 4:8

The author William Thackeray once said: “The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face.”

Some people never learn that lesson. They are miserable, and their life is a failure because they never learned that simple truth. I know individuals who have been through one job after another, after another, after another. Why? Because of “those folks over there,” that’s why. Those “no-good, low-down, malicious, gossiping, hateful people.” They are going to find when they move to a new job that the people there are just the same.

The mirror of the world is a mirror that reflects quite accurately a picture of ourselves. Thackeray continued “Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly, compassionate boomerang.”

As we think in our hearts, so our faces reflect and so our words embody our thoughts. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:8 that we should focus on the good things. May I ask you: How much time did you spend reflecting on those things this past week? We probably take it very lightly and then wonder why things are so difficult in the world.

God of grace and beauty, fill my heart and mind with loveliness. Make me a beautiful person that I might reflect Your beauty to the people I meet today…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN FOCUS
OUR MINDS ON THE LOVELY AND PURE.

“The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek He will teach His way.”

— Psalms 25:9

There is a story about a ship that was sailing down the coast, and it had to turn into the port. But it was a black night, overcast, no moon, no stars, only a few lights at that time along the shore. How was the captain ever going to find the port? A friend was with him, and he had no idea in that day how in the world this captain was ever going to find his way into that port and into the bay without just running the ship right aground.

And the captain said, in this case it was very simple. “You see that red light over there and that one there and that one there?” He said, “Those lights will eventually line up in a straight line, and at that point I turn 180 degrees to the starboard and sail right into the port.”

That reminds us that there are at least three ways that God does guide the humble of heart. The first of which is by the Scripture, and there is much guidance in the Scripture for us. It is, we should always remember, the only infallible guidance that we have. Then there is guidance through circumstances, and there is guidance through the Holy Spirit. Now certainly the Holy Spirit’s guidance would be completely adequate, but since we have fallen into sin—though He is broadcasting properly—our receptors are dented and marred and distorted and there is so much static we don’t hear clearly. But Scripture is our infallible guide.

Lord, we would be so lost without Your Word. We thank You for the light it daily sheds on our way. Help us to take our guidance from You always. Lord, give me strength for today to follow You where You choose to lead me…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH AND BY HIS SPIRIT,
WE ARE NEVER WITHOUT COUNSEL.

“…older women should be…teachers of good things, that they may teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children…”

— Titus 2:3-4

God can use you whatever your age. I think of a railroad conductor, who worked until he was sixty-five. Because of his job, he didn‘t get to spend much time in church. When he retired, he wanted to serve the Lord full time. He decided that he was going to invite people to church.

He went around to houses, knocked on doors, gave some kind of literature, and invited people to come to his church. After he died, it was discovered that he had brought 867 people into that church—after he retired.

Are you too old to do anything? I think not. In fact, retired people have more time than most working people. They could use their talents and their energy to serve the Lord and make a great impact.

I think of some people so old that they can do nothing but lie in bed or sit in a wheelchair all day. But if they still have their faculties, they can do something very significant. They can pray. They can pray for their family, for the church, for the pastor, for the country, for the state government, and so on. They can end up having a huge impact for the kingdom through this act of service.

Paul notes that the older women are to teach the younger ones in the church. Could it be, as we see many Americans getting older and older, we have lost sight of their potential service in God’s kingdom? As long as we are in the world, we are in His service.

Our Savior and God, we make ourselves available today to do that which You would have us do. Give us compassion for those who are needy, spiritually or otherwise…

LORD, GIVE ME STRENGTH FOR TODAY TO SERVE YOU
WITH ALL MY HEART, NO MATTER MY AGE.

“. . . I will sing aloud of Your lovingkindness in the morning.”
— Psalm 59:16

Devotion:

Time is a funny thing—either we have too little of it or too much of it. This year we get an extra day, a gift to do with it what we want—twenty-four shining hours. We were made for eternity; therefore, we are never fully at home in time. Every new day is a gift, and the rays of eternity light it up and show us what is important.

Some of you have planned to serve Christ. You have determined that you would do great things for the Lord. Oh yes, you have planned to be a witness for Him, but you have been so busy. You have no intention to come before Him without one soul with which to greet Him. You do not desire to come into His presence empty-handed.

When we look at all the urgent things we need to do today, we should ask ourselves, “Are these things really important? In light of eternity, will they matter? What will matter a thousand years from now?”

While we go about our duties, let us not get caught up in what has been called “the tyranny of the urgent” and miss that which is truly important. Today, ask God for one beautiful opportunity to do something of eternal value for Him.

Question to ponder:

HOW WILL YOU USE THE GIFT OF AN EXTRA DAY?

“Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
— Hebrews 12:2

In the early days of my pastoring, I had the pleasure of witnessing to a young man in his twenties, who finally accepted Christ. He was growing in the Lord. The very week after he joined the church, he made the central headlines of the newspaper. The FBI was looking for him for some kind of fraudulent activity he had been involved in before.

In fact, when they found him, he was so overwhelmed by this experience he had a mental breakdown. I visited him in Broward Hospital’s mental ward. When I went into his room, he was like a caged lion. He hardly seemed aware of my presence. He was pacing back and forth across the room, mumbling to himself, moaning, bewailing, and gesturing about what was going to happen to him. He was possibly facing twenty years in prison.

After some time, he quieted down as I read the Scripture to him about how Peter had looked at the waves and had begun to sink. I said to him, “You are looking at the waves, and you are sinking into total mental depression and agony of spirit. Lift up your eyes to Jesus. Fix your eyes upon Him. Look upon Him. Look unto Him.”

Gradually, all of his anxiety and distress just seemed to drain away. He sat down in a chair and began to look at me with eyes that obviously were quite full of understanding. He was restored. Later, the charges against him were dropped. Though your problems seem insurmountable, fix your eyes on Jesus.

Jesus Christ, give me strength for today to focus on You. Forgive me for too often focusing on the problems of life, but not You. If ever I should start to sink, let me say with Peter, “Lord, save me.” Thank You that You have overcome the world…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN
KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS.

“Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water.’”
— Matthew 14:28

As we know, one night when the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus was not present, a storm came up. They were afraid and even thought they saw a ghost. It was Jesus, walking on the water. Then, impetuous Peter said, “If it is you, let me walk on the water to You.” And Jesus said, “Come.”

Peter, climbing up the gunnel of the ship, steps down upon the water, no doubt very hesitantly. Holding on to the side, he pushes himself away and begins to walk upon the waves, coming to Christ. What an extraordinary experience. Other than Jesus Christ, he is the only other human being I have ever heard of who actually walked upon water.

Now, we may tend to smile at Peter because of the fearfulness that came upon him and his sinking into the waves. But, let us not forget that Peter did walk a number of steps upon the water. How about you? How many steps have you walked on water?

Then Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the boisterous sea. He saw the effects of it in the waves that were dashing about him. And when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the waves, he began instantly to sink.

How many times have you or I lain upon our beds at night microscopically examining the waves and wondering why we were sinking? If you would learn to walk on water, then don’t look at the waves, look at Jesus.

Lord Jesus, thank You for holding us up in life, even through difficult storms. Help us to focus on You and not the wind and waves. Give us the grace to keep our eyes on You through the storms of life…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH,
WE CAN “WALK ON WATER.”

“Woe unto the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short.”
— Revelation 12:12

Every year millions of Americans eagerly await the Super Bowl. This is when the two most successful and powerful teams in the country meet together for a final conflict, for the championship of the world, preceded by a long competition leading up to the final event.

But when you think about it, there is a real Super Bowl, which is of far greater consequence than any football game. I am talking about a supernatural bowl in which there are two teams in this world that are involved in a contest for the championship of the world, for the dominion of the world.

So in this “Super Bowl” it is Christians vs. the dragons, and many people don’t know what the outcome is going to be. There are those in our country today who join Satan’s team, really believing they are winning and are going to have the victory, receiving from below the success they are seeking in this world. It is a bowl that should indeed cause great interest, because not merely is there a trophy or ring involved, but the entire conquest and dominion of the world is at stake. This Super Bowl is described in the book of Revelation. Thank God we are on the winning side. As the hymn notes, “So from the beginning the fight we were winning.”

Lord, give me strength for today to serve You, knowing that You have conquered the evil one. Though his “craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate,” You defeated Him, Jesus, on the cross and in Your resurrection. Renew my spirit to serve You with joy…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE KNOW
WE ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE.