It was going to be one of Rabbit’s busy days. As soon as he woke up he felt important, as if everything depended upon him. …It was a Captainish sort of day, when everybody said, “Yes, Rabbit” and “No, Rabbit,” and waited until he had told them.
Of all the characters in A.A. Milne’s classic children’s book, The House At Pooh Corner, I think I can relate the most to Rabbit. Full of ideas of his own importance, Rabbit is convinced that the world needs him desperately.
“After all,” said Rabbit to himself, “Christopher Robin depends on Me. He’s fond of Pooh and Piglet and Eeyore, and so am I, but they haven’t any Brain. Not to notice. …And Kanga is too busy looking after Roo, and Roo is too young and Tigger is too bouncy to be any help, so there’s really nobody but Me, when you come to look at it.”
My “Rabbit nature” came out recently when I experienced a major disappointment. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn’t able to participate in a much-anticipated and planned-for event. And it was hard to let go of it.
“But they NEED me!” I kept thinking. “How can they do this without ME?”
In the midst of my pity-party, I was convicted by what the apostle Paul has to say on this subject. “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Phil. 2:3-4, NLT).
My problem was that my focus was on me, me, ME. I wasn’t willing to let go of MY plans and MY desires. And I wasn’t thinking about what was best for the group. I had to repent of my selfishness, my pride, and my attitude of self-importance.
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had,” Paul continues. “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave” (Phil. 2:5-7, NIV).
What about YOU? Are you willing to be a servant? Are you willing to sacrifice what you want for the good of others? Ask the Lord to help you get out of the “me-first” mentality and have the attitude of a servant – putting others above yourself!
Going Vertical!
MJ
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