Honor Christ and put others first.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of my favorite television sitcoms is “The Big Bang Theory”. It showcases four nerdy geeks who are geniuses in the scientific world…but almost literally cannot get in out of the rain in everyday life. One of the nerdiest is a character named Sheldon Cooper. According to a fan website… http://the-big-bang-theory.com - “Sheldon is the uber geek, he possesses a Master's degree and 2 PhDs, and conducts string theory research at Caltech.” Sheldon is also an egomaniac, and when he’s particularly proud of something he has said or done, he shouts, “Bazinga!” Here are a few examples of “Sheldon quotes” from various episodes…
- Sheldon: Why are you crying?
Penny: Because I'm stupid!
Sheldon: That's no reason to cry. One cries because one is sad. For example, I cry because others are stupid, and that makes me sad. - Sheldon: I assure you, you'll be sorry that you wasted your money on an iPod when Microsoft comes out with theirs.
Rajesh: Do you have an opinion about everything?
Sheldon: Yes.
Howard: And you just assume you're right?
Sheldon: It's not an assumption. - Sheldon: Howard, you know me to be a very smart man. Don't you think that if I were wrong, I'd know it?
You get the picture…it’s all about Sheldon – all the time. And for the record, this character’s background includes a devoutly Christian mother from Texas - and Sheldon often makes references to his church upbringing. While he sometimes cites moral dilemmas…such as claiming not to drink coffee because his mother admonished him “not to do drugs”, his focus does not appear to be on honoring Christ – and he most certainly would not choose to put others first!
“Sheldon Cooper” is an extreme example…but don’t we all know some version of him? Maybe you are even one of these people. When someone is sick, you have to tell them about YOUR ailments rather than offer empathy for theirs. It’s one thing to say, “I had that once, and it is miserable”… or “I remember how sad I felt when MY mother died…and I am so very sorry”…or “Losing my job was the catalyst for me to go back to school and start a new career...I am praying that you will find a new beginning, as well.” It’s quite another to launch into a dissertation about your litany of illnesses and/or injuries, or to go on and on about how you are mired in your own grief…or to be flippant about a job loss, disappointment, or challenge. It’s even worse to turn these into opportunities to toot your own horn – or to appeal to others for sympathy or commiseration on your own behalf.
I’ve quoted my pastor several times, but “there is a heartache on every pew”. I am pretty sure for everything you and I think we are enduring in the course of a day…someone else has it worse! Yes, we are important…our feelings matter – especially to God. But the way we glorify God and demonstrate His love to others is to step outside of ourselves…and into the shoes of the other guy…and to focus on his/her needs.
Use the experiences of your life to minister to others. If you’ve had the same illness, you know best how to encourage someone as he/she convalesces. If you have lost a parent, grandparent, sibling or other loved one – or even a beloved pet – you can offer first-hand understanding and condolence to someone else enduring the same loss. Whether it’s a happy occurrence or a tragic one, you have actual, personal familiarity with a variety of situations that equips you to minister to others in the same boat. And in doing so, you honor Christ.
There are an awful lot of “Sheldon Coopers” among us…people who have the intellect and capacity for showing compassion to others – and sharing the love of Christ in the bargain…but choose instead to place the focus of pretty much everything on themselves. Don’t be one of these people. Open your eyes and ears – and your heart – and see who needs you today. Then get busy blessing them in Jesus’ name…and give God a reason to shout, “Bazinga!”
©2014 Debbie Robus
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