Where’s our focus?

We are bombarded with messages to improve ourselves. “The new you!” “Self-care and self-love!” These and similar pitches push us to the centre of our own attention and at times, the centre of our adoration. This type of thinking and living doesn’t last.

Scripture would show us that this isn’t a healthy way to live. Moreover, this isn’t a beneficial way to build our lives, and we’ll leave a self-focused legacy.

Consider Paul’s teaching to the Philippian Church.

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:3-7 (ESV)

What if we took Paul’s teaching seriously? What if we counted others as more significant? What if we became servants, focused on improving our world more than improving ourselves? What would life look like? Would we be healthier mentally, socially and spiritually? At the end of our life, would we be more satisfied with the legacy we left?

Funerals help us see the outcome.

Think about the last time you were at a funeral or a memorial. Try to think back to the last obituary you read. Think about what was said or written about the person who had passed away. There are often a few words about their personal hobbies and aspirations, unpacked as positive highlights of the deceased’s life.

Imagine for a moment, that these tributes included one of the following statements.

• “She loved fitness! She worked out every day and counted every carb!”
• “Hunting and fishing was his passion! He never missed an opportunity to fill the freezer!”
• “Career was his life! He was the first person to arrive at work every day for forty years!”

On the surface, these might sound great! They’re all great attributes and might make for a decent memorial, but what do they say about the legacy they’re leaving? Not much.

The characteristics we leave behind matter.

The most impactful stories are often about the legacy that the person has left behind. It’s far more meaningful and motivating to hear accounts of how an individual has invested in other people. The greatest legacies are left by those who have improved their world, not just improved themselves.

This is so important for us to remember as we prioritize our lives. Take this into account within a reboot of our previous three statements.

• “She loved fitness! She encouraged everyone to stay active and helped so many people live healthier lives!”
• “Hunting and fishing was his passion! He never missed an opportunity to help others build outdoor skills!”
• “Career was his life! He was a team player among co-workers, helping everyone achieve and improve their projects!”

This may sound nuanced, but there’s a vast difference in how it’s lived out before and after they pass away. They impacted far more people, they improved so many more lives, and they have a legacy that continues past them. Other people mattered. Their world mattered.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

• How much time do you spend improving your world versus improving yourself?
• What do you think people will say about you at your funeral?
• What will your obituary say about your legacy?