The Abundant Life: Riches money can’t buy…
The abundant life esteems others.
Esteem means to respect, regard, or place a high value on. Philippians 2:3 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
I read a story years ago about a business school student who was taking a pop quiz. She was quite bright and seemed to breeze through the questions, until she got to the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans this school?”
Surely this was a joke, she thought. She had seen the woman several times. She could even describe her. She was tall, dark-haired, and perhaps in her 50s, but she had never engaged her in conversation or even knew her name. So she left the question blank.
Another student asked if the last question would count toward the quiz grade. The professor said, “Absolutely! In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you can do is smile and say hello.”
There’s a life lesson in that little story. Everyone matters. We are not better than anyone else. We might live in a bigger house, drive a faster car, make more money, speak ten languages, have a law degree, understand quantum physics, or be on the cover of People Magazine, but that doesn’t mean we are better than others. All people are more knowledgeable than us in certain areas.
When we see a homeless person, a drug addict, or someone struggling, it’s good to always remember the saying, “There but for the grace of God go I.” Another little gem is to treat everyone with dignity and respect when you are climbing the ladder of success. You may need them on your way down.
Those who live the abundant life treat others the way they would like to be treated, no matter where they are on the ladder.
*****
“…I have come that they may have life and that they
may have it more abundantly.” ~John 10:10 (KJV)
