JOY: Jesus First, Others Second, Yourself Last

Unveiling the Recipe for Living a Valuable Life through Selfless Service

I am certain that you are eager to live a life of value and make a significant difference. None of us desire to exist, consume resources, or squander opportunities merely while we await our end. Life has so much more in store for us. Your creation has a unique purpose. You are not a random occurrence. You are not merely a result of survival of the fittest. Your purpose is divine.

Think through several points that might help you be what you want. There are tons of self-help articles, books, and audio, but you don’t need them. You know what to do, and the Bible, the Word of God, will teach you what to do.

Think about how you can do the following and see the impact it will make in the world.

Love Others

People everywhere are looking for someone who will love them. They are hungry for a meaningful connection that shows genuine interest in them. Their desire is for a relationship. They want to know someone who genuinely cares and shows compassion towards them.

Love is the most potent weapon we have. The most resilient chain to connect you to others is love. Love is not an emotion or feeling, but an action and what you do. It is not what you should look for from others, but what you should extend to all.

Stop the hurting and start the healing. Stop the blame game and start being accountable for helping others.

Serve Others

Live life for others. When I was a kid, the Sunday School teacher taught us to spell JOY like this: Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. That is a pretty good recipe for living a valuable life.

When you put others first and serve them, you can genuinely add value to them. Do acts of service. Lift others around you. Support others. Benefit others.

The story is told of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. As he aged and had health issues, they requested him to send a message to the Salvation Army meeting.

They waited to hear from their founder with great anticipation. The message came, and it was simple.

OTHERS

The concept of serving others, being selfless, focusing on the needs of others, not your own, and making a difference with your life was understood.

Live a life of value by serving others.

Quit Being the Center of the Universe

Living a life of value means adding value wherever you go. To do that, recognize that the world doesn’t revolve around you. You are not the center of the universe. It’s about others, not just you.

John Maxwell states that, except for one exception, the entire world comprises others. I hope you get that, you and others.

Not every comment is meant to please or hurt you. You are to live thinking of others.

Even the Lord Jesus Christ came to serve and put others first. He is, was, and always will be the center of the universe, but he acted like it far less than most us.

We need to value others to live a life of value.

Conclusion

There are three thoughts that can help us live valuable lives. Take the time to meditate on them. There are many more ideas, and I would love to hear yours. Chat with me whenever you wish.

Let’s live with a purpose. Let’s make a difference with the limited time we have been granted.

Quotes

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." Pablo Picasso

"The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive." Albert Einstein

"The best way to find joy is to bring joy to others." Unknown

"Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world." Wayne Dyer

"We rise by lifting others." Robert Ingersoll

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Aesop

"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." John Bunyan

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." Oscar Wilde

Bible Verses

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:3-4

Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. 1 Corinthians 10:24