It’s Not About Me

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren is one of the best-selling non-fiction books in history, with more than 34 million copies sold in over 70 languages. 

Chapter one of the book opens with four simple words: It’s not about you.

Rick Warren understood that the fundamental key to finding purpose in life is to focus on other people. This principle ought flow into how we think about our future plans.  

There’s a difference between making big plans and making grand plans: big plans can be self-focused but grand plans are always others-focused. 

In Luke 4, Jesus announced his grand plans by quoting from the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah. Jesus proclaimed that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him, so that others could hear the Good News, find freedom, healing and dignity. 

Jesus didn’t just have big plans to improve his own life, He had grand plans which helped the lives of others. Right from the beginning, Jesus recognised that the provision and opportunities that the Father had given Him were not simply for Himself.  

When Jesus’ followers expressed their own personal desire for greatness, Jesus didn’t rebuke their desire, but He did give it focus. Jesus taught that greatness in God’s Kingdom is linked to how we use our lives to serve others. Jesus taught this and He modelled this. 

In Philippians 2, Paul encourages us to have this same mindset that Jesus had, a mindset that says, ‘It’s not about me!’ 

Here are some questions to help prompt your thinking as you consider your future plans: 

Do I have big plans or do I have grand plans? 

Whose life will be better because of my influence in the next 12 months? 

If God answered all of my prayers today, would anyone else’s life be helped? 

What gifts and opportunities has God given me? What might be the higher purpose for these gifts and opportunities?