Lifting All Boats: Build an Environment Where Others Can Grow
A rising tide lifts all boats. What if we worked not only on improving our own lives, but also on helping the people around us grow?
#449 — Lifting All Boats - Creating an Environment for Everyone's Benefit
Oct 19, 2026
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We all want to make progress. We want stronger faith, better relationships, wiser decisions with money, and healthier habits. And there is nothing wrong with that. We should take responsibility for our own lives and do the work that needs to be done.
But I want to ask you another question. What if we could do more than improve our own lives? What if the work we're doing could help the people around us grow too? You've heard the expression, 'A rising tide lifts all boats.' I think there is a powerful lesson in that picture.
Instead of asking only, 'How can I make my boat rise?' what if we also asked, 'How can I help raise the water?'
Are we lifting boats or raising the water?
Imagine a lake where the water has dropped so low that the boats are sitting in the mud. One man decides he isn't going to leave his boat there. He brings in equipment, builds a system of supports, and lifts his boat back up to dock level. Good for him! He saw a problem and did something about it.
But look around. All the other boats are still stuck in the mud. What if he had put some of that energy into figuring out why the water was disappearing? What if he could help bring the water back? Then his boat would rise, and so would everybody else's.
That's the difference I want us to think about. Of course we need to take care of our own responsibilities. But what if the things we're learning and the opportunities we have could make life better for other people too?
Jesus teaches us to look beyond ourselves
Philippians 2:3–4 tells us not to look only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. Then Paul points us to Jesus. Think about that. The Son of God humbled Himself and served people who could never repay Him. He gave His life for us (Philippians 2:5–8).
Now, we cannot do for anyone what Jesus did for us. But we can learn to think more like Him. He didn't come to show us how important He was. He came to serve. And when we become stronger, wiser, or more capable, shouldn't that make us more useful to the people around us?
Here's a good question to ask: Is my growth making me more impressive, or is it helping me become more helpful?
Start with your own work, then invite someone along
Galatians 6 tells us to bear one another's burdens, and it also reminds us that each person has a load to carry (verses 2 and 5). Both things matter. I cannot live your life for you, and you cannot live mine for me. But we can help each other.
Maybe you've learned how to manage money a little better. Maybe you've become more consistent in Bible reading. Maybe you've worked through a struggle in your marriage or started taking better care of your health. That's wonderful. Now ask yourself: Who could benefit from what I've learned?
You don't have to make a speech or act like an expert. Sometimes all you need to say is, 'This has really helped me. Would you like to try it together?' That's how personal growth begins to bless somebody else.
Faith: Help someone else grow closer to God
Think about your spiritual life. We each need to read, pray, worship, and obey God. Nobody can do those things in our place. But Hebrews 10:24–25 reminds us that Christians are supposed to encourage one another toward love and good works.
Who is stronger in faith because you are part of their life? Could you invite someone to read the Bible with you? Encourage a young person who wants to learn? Make room for a sincere question? A stronger congregation is not built by a few people doing everything. Ephesians 4:11–16 describes Christians being equipped so the whole body can grow.
Don't just ask whether you're learning more. Ask whether you're helping someone else learn too.
Friendship: Make room for somebody else
It's good to have close friends. We need them. But sometimes our friendships become a little circle that nobody else can get into. We enjoy being together and forget that someone nearby may be lonely.
What would happen if you invited a new person to join you? What if you introduced two people who might really encourage one another? What if you checked on the person who hasn't been around much lately?
You may already have the friends you need. But you might be in a position to help somebody else find the friendship they need. That's raising the tide.
Finances: Let wisdom become generosity
Working hard, paying bills, getting out of debt, and saving wisely are good things. But what is the larger purpose? First Timothy 6:17–19 reminds those who have been blessed materially to be generous and rich in good works.
Maybe you're in a position to give. Maybe you can help someone learn to make a budget or avoid a mistake you've made. You don't have to tell everybody how well you're doing. Just look for an opportunity to help.
Financial progress is a blessing. And it becomes an even greater blessing when we use it to do good.
Fitness: Make healthy steps easier together
The same idea applies to taking care of our bodies. We ought to be careful not to make our personal routines into rules for everybody else. But if walking, eating better, or exercising has helped you, why not invite someone along?
Maybe a friend would love to walk with you but doesn't want to go alone. Maybe your family could enjoy an active outing together. Sometimes the greatest help isn't a lecture about what somebody needs to change. It's simply having someone say, 'I'll do it with you.'
First Timothy 4:8 reminds us that bodily training has value, while godliness matters even more. So let these habits serve something bigger than appearance or personal achievement.
The Excel Still More directory: A chance to raise the tide
Here's a recent example from my own work. While rebuilding the Excel Still More website, I started thinking about what the site could do beyond sharing my podcast, sermons, and articles. There are so many Christians doing good work—writing books, creating resources, running businesses, and trying to serve others.
So we began building a community directory. The idea is simple: If people are already coming to the website, why not help them discover some of those other good works too? Giving someone else a place to be found doesn't take anything away from what we're doing. It gives the whole project a bigger purpose.
And that's the question I want to leave with you. Where could you do something similar? In your home? At church? Among your friends? In your neighborhood? Keep working on your own boat. But every once in a while, lift your eyes and look at the water. Who else could rise if you helped raise the tide?
Take the idea with you.
- 01Where am I working hard on my own growth but overlooking a chance to help someone else?
- 02Who could benefit from something I've learned in faith, friendship, finances, or fitness?
- 03What is one thing I could do this week to help raise the tide for someone else?
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