Confession. The idea for this post came to me after a person asked me to lunch. During that time he spent 45 minutes telling me everything about himself. That wasn’t my “Ah Ha!” moment… it was what I was thinking as he was talking! I thought along these lines, “I wish he’d hush so I could tell him a few things about me!” It was at that moment I was convicted of how selfish I was being… God showed me a blind spot in my life. And I didn’t like it…
By definition a blind spot is something a person doesn’t see. Everyone else can, but the person himself cannot. I’ve recently noticed a blind spot everyone else has, which by the previous two sentences means I have it too. My prayer is that as I am realizing my blind spot I will work to minimize it’s effects. But that’s another post…
Every Person’s Blind Spot Is… Self-centeredness. You are self-centered and so am I. I know that because everyone prefers to talk about themselves than listen to others talk about themselves. Everyone is more concerned about how things affect them than how others are effected. Everyone wants attention, recognition, and to be noticed… me included.
There’s only one problem with that… what Jesus said in Scripture.
Mark 9:35 “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Read that again. God has called Christians to build up others… to encourage others… to put others before ourselves. That glorifies God. Ways to overcome/combat self-centeredness…
Use humor to encourage others, not get a laugh at other’s expense.
Turn all conversation to other’s and their needs and don’t use it to extol your own accomplishments.
Listen to people closely and intently as they talk… eventually you’ll find a reason to pray for them.
Find a tangible way to encourage people. Simple things like a note, email, or phone call can bind up the heart of the wounded… and trust me… everyone is wounded.
Remember people and build them up. Let them know that they are important to you after the fact.
(Now for the one negative suggestion) DO NOT talk so much about yourself when you converse with others! If they ask a question, answer it… but do it in a manner that glorifies God.
Enough about what I think, what about you?