Paul wrote, ‘Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand’ (v.4 MSG). That means do these five things:

1) Be genuinely interested in others. ‘Laugh…when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down’ (Romans 12:15 MSG). We can only do that when we take the time to find out what’s going on in someone else’s world.

2) Try to be upbeat as much as you can. ‘A cheerful heart brings a smile…a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day’ (Proverbs 15:13 MSG). We can take any problem to God in prayer, and trust that He’s working on the solution. Even if nothing changes straight away, it will.

3) Be careful what you say, and always say less than you think. ‘Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back’ (Proverbs 29:11 NLT). We should always be kind and courteous.

4) Be reliable. The Bible says, ‘Good people will be guided by honesty’ (Proverbs 11:3 NCV). When we say we’ll do something, we should do it. Character is measured by actions, not words. So let’s try to be people who can be relied on to keep a promise.

5) Be an encourager. Barnabas was known as a motivator because he ‘encouraged the believers’ (Acts 11:23 NLT). Sometimes people just need a gentle nudge in the right direction, a little help to get going or to keep going. Job said, ‘When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them’ (Job 29:24 NLT). Even a smile can work wonders!

What Now?

Slowly re-read the points in today’s reading, praying about each one as you go through them. Are there any in particular that you need to work on, or you feel God prompting you about?