AEIOU (sometimes Y): All Everyone’s Interests, or Only Me?
Hey, don’t let him cut the line — I’ve been waiting a loonnnggggtime!
I would donate some clothes, but everything in my closet looks great on me.
Look… “just looking out for number one” — that would be me, ok?
When we get too focused on the stiff-legged vowel “I,” it’s time to look to the Bible for God’s way of seeing others and ourselves. So what is that way? By focusing our attention on being kind, considerate, and caring toward others, says the Lord. We will not regret it!
Matthew 7:12
“Do for others what you want them to do for you. This is the teaching of the laws of Moses in a nutshell.” (TLB)
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets, and this is what you get.” (MSG)
We hear a lot about “self-care” on any given day. Of course, God wants us to be mindful of our daily eating, exercising, and relational habits. We are to make efforts to remain healthy, safe, and clean! However, this is not God’s number one ☝🏾 — too much of this “caring about self” is like eating more than your share of a steady diet of junk food. God’s kingdom agenda places this further down the list than the world, ads, movies, and songs we hear repeatedly.
Does Jesus have anything to say?
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves — not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others.
Jesus cares for all people, and He proved it by forgetting about Himself totally — giving His all for what was best for us. He gave His life for those of us who were only thinking about ourselves, what we wanted, and how to make ourselves “happy.”
During summer, and this halftime of God’s year, let’s prepare to get moving with God’s game plan for the second half — finishing well, helping others, and pleasing the Lord.
We are cheering you on to VICTORY! 🏆
©2026 Penelope White. Use with the author’s permission. Send requests to penywhite@hotmail.com
Penelope Allen White is a wife, mother of two young adult sons, and grandmother. Her passion is for all children and people to have an intimate knowledge of God. She works as a Christian educator, speaker, church school curriculum writer and teacher, workshop facilitator, middle school counselor, and neighborhood tutor. Despite her busy schedule, she still finds time to enjoy a game of hopscotch!
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