Pride and selfishness lead to conflict. When I strive to serve my own desires, inevitably I will anger or hurt someone. However, when I honor and serve others, I live in harmony with them,
In our culture we seem to have things backwards a lot. We respect celebrities and denigrate the down and out. Many celebrities do good things for which they deserve honors, but many just build big homes and egos. We should find ways to benefit the lowly to make our community better and more unified.
Romans 12 gives us a laundry list of things we should do to bring harmony and build up our communities.
* “be devoted to one another in brotherly love
* give preference to one another in honor
* not lagging behind in diligence
* fervent in spirit
* serving the Lord
* rejoicing in hope
* persevering in tribulation
* devoted to prayer
* contributing to needs
* practicing hospitality
* bless those who persecute you
* bless and do not curse
* rejoice with those who rejoice
* weep with those who weep
* be of the same mind with one another
* do not be haughty
* associate with the lowly
* do not be wise in your own eyes.”
You may not agree with all these things, but they will lead to harmony and better communities.
Reluctant Retiree 