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Selfishness is frequently the most destructive of sins. But an eternal perspective can help you decide what's worth going after, and what's self-centered. Following Jesus impacts everyday life. You have God's power to solve every situation, so there's no room for whining or selfish pouting.

When your coworker dumps work on you, an eternal perspective helps you find the energy to address the problem. List solutions with your coworker and agree on deadlines, then follow through with your commitments. If your child speaks to you with ugly words and attitudes, insist that child makes requests known kindly or lose thirty minutes of computer time; then monitor that time to make sure it's known you mean it. And if a church member expects too much of you, an eternal perspective helps you explain to him that as much as you'd like to take on three jobs, one is all you can do well. Agree on exactly what that job includes, then do it well without guilt. No whining. No self-pity. Just Jesus-centered problem-solving. (See also Genesis 11:1-9; Hebrews 4:12, 13.)

Good Words to Remember:
Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:35, 36

Today's Challenge:
How can an eternal perspective change even your view of pesky problems?

Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.

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