A Rising Tide: Helping Others Rise with You
If you can help the tide to rise, less focus on your boat, more focus on the environment around you, you get exactly what you want.
A Rising Tide
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See the people in front of you
I believe a Christian can focus on what they want and the work they are willing to do to get it, but never at the expense of others and never in hopes that you receive more than others. So today I want to give you several examples on what that looks like, but let me begin with a little history lesson.
Our phrase, a rising tide lifts all boats, was first proclaimed publicly in the early 1960s by a senator from Massachusetts named John F.
What gets in the way
And I am having an increasingly difficult time matching that up with what it means to be a child of God, to be a part of Christ's family, to be a servant in the church, wherein I want to grow and I want my boat to be raised, whether that's me personally or my family, but never to the neglect of or to the expense of anyone else whom God has put in this bay next to me. I still had the same personal and family goals, except instead of just pouring all of the attention into me getting that thing, I started pouring it more into getting other people involved and creating a better, more positive, more hopeful environment wherein we can all work together.
Let me give you one more practical example, and then I want to start applying it to your faith, your family, your fellow believers.
A more loving response
And you totally renovated the classrooms and the curriculum, the material, and what the children were experiencing in their Bible study. And I know it took some attention away from your home and your kids, but what's the benefit?
In the end, your children get a better education in the scriptures when they come to Bible classes, but so does every other family.
Practice this with others
Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. He goes on in verse three to say, Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourself.
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Take the idea with you.
- 01Where do I see the problem or opportunity described in “A Rising Tide: Helping Others Rise with You” in my own life?
- 02What Scripture or spiritual principle in this study most needs my attention?
- 03What one specific change can I make this week to put this teaching into practice?
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