Perspective On The MountaintopSample

The Whole Picture

You’re with a group of friends and someone suggest you take a picture together. Everyone agrees and a photo is snapped. The group crowds around the little screen to assess the quality of the picture. Some say “It’s great” and some “I don’t like it”. Whether this is a group of two or five or twenty, one thing is almost certain - every single person crowded around that little screen has zoomed in and is assessing, not the whole picture, but how they themselves look.

Our perspective gravitates toward self-interest. If we are blinking or our hair is out of place or we are making a weird face, we want the picture retaken. We want to look our best. It almost never occurs to us to evaluate how others look or the overall quality of the photo. In fact, if we look great, even if several others have gaping mouths or squinty eyes, we will likely fight to have the photo stand.

The world is bigger than us. There are things out there that are just as important as us. A true perspective is able to take these things into account and give appropriate weight to a variety of interests. The Apostle Paul says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” God wants His children to love others, serve and give to others. Many times, we may come across an idea or person, like “I would really like to volunteer at an orphanage,” or “I’ve been thinking of my friend all week long.” This is a great opportunity to give of yourself to others. If it’s on your mind, put it into action. Go volunteer or call up that friend and make time to listen to somebody else. 

When we focus in on ourselves, we limit our ability to understand and appreciate the fullness of the world. When we seek the best interest of others, we not only broaden our perspective, we actually discover that our true self-interest lies in serving.