DAY 114 - What Is In It For Me

Everything we experience is for our benefit.  We can learn something from every experience, or we can fail to learn the lesson Father is teaching and have the same lesson presented to us at a later date.  It is His glory to bring to pass our Eternal Life.  To me that means that every "blessing" or every "trial" is for my benefit. 

Today while I remain between my sheets trying to figure out how to get rid of an infection that has taken over my body, I must ask Father to help me learn whatever He is trying to teach me.  As I have languished here among pillows and sheets, I have been reading a book, at least when my eyes can focus on the words.

One lesson I have learned, am learning is the principle of  "What's in it for me."  As I have plenty of time to evaluate that statement, I find out that often that is the motivation that moves me.  I am afraid as I think about this, I often subconsciously think of that.  Instead, why don't I think "What is in it for them?" 

It sounds so selfish. When I am on the way to work, I often think about getting in front of another driver.  What's in it for me?  I can get to work thirty seconds earlier.  Why don't I think, what's in it for him/her?  I won't be late, I always get there early, but perhaps they need to get there on time and we wrestle for being in front of each other. 

When I am at the grocery store, I always wrestle to get in the shortest line.  What is in it for me? I will get home a few seconds earlier, or to an appointment.  But what about the one I just stepped in front of.  Why can't I be a few seconds later and let them go in front of me? 

I am afraid that much of my life is "What is in it for me?" rather than being compassionate and caring about my brothers and sisters that I have never met.  Christ was never in that frame of mind, "What is in it for me."  Missions have nothing to do with what is in it for me.  It is more seeking out opportunities to see what is in it for others and helping them have "it."   Well, here is another goal I have to work on for the next 114 days, what is in it for my neighbor, forgetting what is in it for me. 

As I lay here, I start thinking and there are many instances of what is in it for me.  I better change that.  Marley once said to Scrooge, "Man kind should have been our business."  I guess that involves this principle also, right?