Seeking The Good Of Others

If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, you know that one of my favorite hobbies is running. I am constantly updating my status with thoughts of hitting the streets. What’s on my mind? You know it: “Run Ronnie Run”!

On March 5th, 2011 I celebrated my 42nd birthday. One of my birthday traditions is to make sure I go for a run. With about a mile left on my run, a younger man about 24 years of age, passed me on my right hand side.

In my twenties, I attended graduate school at Florida State University and became a good friend with one of the top tri-athletes in the state of Florida. We used to run through the campus together everyday during the week. We had one rule during our run: No one was allowed to pass us! (Note: I think I broke the rule, but he never did.)

As the young man passed me on my 42nd birthday, I had many thoughts race through my head. The first one was, “no one is allowed to pass me”. Then, I reasoned that this rule doesn’t apply to me anymore because I am no longer in my twenties.

The next thought was the scripture 1 Corinthians 10:24. It says, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” How dare this young buck pass me on my birthday? That was so rude…LOL! He was definitely not thinking about this Scripture and my pride as he passed me on the road.

My next thought was: “This is going to hurt”!

Then, I took off and chased him for a half-mile as fast as I could. We ran side by side until I had to turn off the road to take my route home. As I made my turn, he sighed and said, “Thank you sir”.

Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to give instruction and admonition that would lead to the solving of many problems in the congregation. In dealing with the confusion that had crept into the church at Corinth as believers failed to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord, Apostle Paul reminded them that a true disciple of Jesus does not only seek his own good, but the good of others.

The Corinthians had lost sight of God. Their selfishness had blinded them. Apostle Paul taught them that the egocentric life is contrasted with the Christ-centered life. A mature Christian is characterized by giving instead of getting, and building up others instead of tearing them down.

So remember, if you want to be like Jesus, don’t pass an older person while they are running on their birthday, and live to seek the good of others!