Today I woke up and wondered, "In what way will I make a difference in this world?" Seem familiar? We all ask ourselves this question time and time again because of our need to feel significant. We even take scripture from God's Word and twist it to justify our gratification in making much of our accomplishments. Like we had something to do with what we have. I want to feel like I have accomplished great things to seem important. It's sad I know, but in reality this is how most of us live everyday. We waste away our lives seeking affirmation of our success. I go through life only looking to put my effort and attention into things that will affect me and improve my "persona". I'm always planning on working towards the next big thing, so my eyes are only on me, myself and I. Me…Me…Me. My...My…My...It's always been about me!!! Something needs to change...

Let's go to Romans 12 and read what Paul describes as one of the true marks of a Christian. He says in verse 16, "Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly". This verse has so much meaning and wisdom, but too often its significance is overlooked. I'm not to be haughty...ok...what does that mean? Basically, being haughty is having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain for those one views as unworthy. But... I'm not like that...am I? The verse is implying that I should associate with the lowly. That simply means to give myself to humble tasks. But what tasks? The tasks are everywhere around me. The only thing, is that "lowly tasks" are typically the ones that are most inconvenient and in which I overlook the value in completing them. It simply wasn't on my agenda, so it's not a big deal if I leave it alone or ignore it.

Let's look at another passage in the bible where Jesus is speaking to a lawyer in response to his question about "How to make it into heaven". The lawyer followed Jesus' response of "...and love thy neighbor as thyself" with asking, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered him in a parable. It goes like this...

"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

Even today I live like the priest and the Levite who walked past the dying man stripped of everything he owns. I drive past opportunities to associate with the lowly because it simply doesn’t seem "important" enough. Associating with the lowly should not be something I put on my agenda but something I'm always aware of. The key word is mercy. As Christians, we have received an abundance of mercy too great for words to begin to describe. I have one phrase for everyone, and more importantly myself, that should never be forgotten and repeated daily...GET OVER YOURSELF. Stop looking for opportunities to flash you righteous badge to the world, and go now and look for the man in the alley that needs warmth, shelter, healing and friendship and show him mercy.