How can we, in our own contexts, prioritise the well-being of others?

The question is born of what I believe is your deep desire: to put others before yourself. I believe that beneath many layers of cultural sediment, our deepest desire is to regard others' interests over our own, particularly if we practice the way of Jesus.

Our issue in activating that desire is that our host culture taught us to prioritise ourselves. We have been socialised into self-focus.

Family, I have been socialised the same way, into the same behaviour. I know that the struggle is real, and very often, I want to put my preferences, interests, and myself above everyone else, even my own family.

But when we received Jesus and, by the Holy Spirit, adopted His will and way, we were re-socialised out of our host culture and into Jesus’ culture. In Jesus’ culture, we put others first because others matter.

The vocational calling of all of God’s people is to represent Him in this world as He brings the kingdom fully to fruition. We are integral to God’s plan to reconcile all things to Himself, and get as many people as possible back to Him.

If you practise the way of Jesus, I believe you want to accept this mandate. You want to see your one more come to know God’s love. You want to invite them to meet Jesus and His people. But we have an issue. Though we want to see our friends, family, and neighbours know Jesus' love for them, we do not share the good news or invite them to worship.

Why? We fear rejection and alienation. I get it. There have been extended periods in my life while I was a pastor, and the only time I invited others to know Jesus’ love and Jesus’ people was when I was speaking publicly. I have had extended seasons where I did not attempt to interpersonally introduce people to Jesus and His people.

Life is simply too busy to serve. Consider a typical week: juggling work deadlines, family responsibilities, and social commitments.

By the time the weekend arrives, the thought of adding one more task, like serving at church, can feel overwhelming. It's easy to feel like there's no room left to give

And yet an undeniable truth calls to us—Serving is Essential to The Way of Jesus. I understand this challenge personally. Before I was ever on staff at a church, I served. I remember one particular weekend when I had a major project due at work; we had a brand new baby on the way, I was in a Criminal Justice Master's programme, and I was coaching College and High School wrestling. I felt stretched thin and wondered how I could possibly find the energy to serve at church.

But I realised that in those moments of exhaustion, serving brought a sense of fulfilment and connection that nothing else could. Despite our busyness and challenges, the Scriptures clearly state that the primary way we can mirror Jesus and make a difference in other people's lives is by activating our gifts and serving.

So, how do we overcome these obstacles and create space for service in our lives? Here’s a practical plan to help us do just that:

Model Jesus: Follow His example of serving others. Create Margin: Make space in your life by leaning on Jesus. Discover Your Purpose: Understand your unique gifts and calling. Use Your Gifts Well: Serve others with excellence.