On Being Third

Published on by Kellyn Roth

Every Christian knows that their desires can’t come first in their life. God has to be our first thought.

However, something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is the fact that, even as we can’t be first, we can’t be second, either.

We have to come third.

Now, I know people talk a lot nowadays about how you have to ‘take care of yourself.’ They almost treat altruism as a character fault.

I don’t believe everyone should be giving all their food to the needy so that they starve in the process, etc., but you do need to make sure other people come before you as much as humanly possible.

As Christians, we are supposed to be unselfish and loving to other people.

Now, you could definitely say that, since God directly told us to love one another, loving God and loving other people is kind of the same thing. That’s probably true. However, sometimes pleasing other people is directly opposed to God.

For instance, perhaps your friend wants you to rob a convenience store so he can have his MilkWay bars for free. Now, obviously God has got to come first in this situation. You can’t place people before God.

However, placing yourself before other people? We all know that’s wrong.

So … be third.

First God.

Then everyone else.

Then you.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of summer!

~Kellyn Roth~

Blog | Website| Reviews

17 thoughts on “On Being Third”

  1. Reblogged this on Reveries and commented:

    This is a post I wrote for Send the Light, the Christian blog I co-author on. If you’re a Christian, check it out! If not … carry on. 😉

    Like

    Reply

  2. There’s a song that goes along with this:
    “J is for Jesus for he has first place,
    O is for others you meet face to face,
    Y is for you and whatever you do,
    put yourself last and spell joy!”

    I don’t know if you’ve heard that or not.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. True! That being said…loving another person isn’t always the same as pleasing them… I think if you are in tune with God (which is, I guess, putting Him first), you’ll know how to love them in the best way possible for them–and how God loves them. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. *nods* Yep. Like how parents should punish their kids, etc. Losing electronics doesn’t PLEASE me, per se, but in the long run, I think my parents are loving me by doing it. Just as a completely random unrelated example. *whistles nonchalantly*

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Well, I disagree with that. First of all, putting yourself first is a very lonely place. It deprives you of the special joy of giving, too. And I don’t believe there’s any true happiness except through serving others.

      Also, I don’t know if this is a point for you or not as we have never met before now (hiya!), but as a Christian, I believe what it says in the Bible: “loving your neighbor as yourself” and “each count the other better than himself.” Then “greater love is no more than this: that one would put down his life for his friend.”

      Like

      Reply

      1. It is important to be open minded on this. You can still put yourself first, ie in the way of enough rest, good food, making time for exercise and quiet prayer etc AND give to others, this was my whole point. Replenish yourself and it makes you a better helper, guide and inspiration for others. Better for others all round rather than being tired and resentful. If we are to be Christlike then we know no-one is above anyone else. Of course I would put my life down for a friend or loved one should I find myself in exceptional circumstances 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I guess that’s one way of looking at it, but I do truly believe that putting others first is the only way to achieve true happiness and to really love. It is most people’s instinct to take care of “#1!” first, but that’s not what God leads us to do. And you can take even those simple things too far. I’ve known people who put getting time to themselves before others (I’m one of them, I admit) … and it’s not good! Sometimes you have to push beyond your own needs to be loving to a friend or a family member. I rarely do. I need to work on that.

        Also, it’s important to note that sometimes putting others before you doesn’t mean just giving in to them and giving into them until you’re physically worn into the ground. (I think I said this, but) It’s not loving for a parent to spoil their child. It certainly is EASIER to give the screaming little boy or girl the icecream cone, and it does make them happy (from what I understand from my mom; I’m not a mother myself), but it’s not the best thing for them. They’re just going to get more and more spoiled and harder and harder to be loving to! I think the same applies to adults, haha. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Thank you for your detailed response, I appreciate you. I am gathering you are very young and mercifully do not know what ‘burn out’ is 🙂 And may you never do so. Jesus says for those who are weary to find rest in him.
        As to ice-cream, I would love Christians to understand the cruelty and violence they contribute to with the animal food industry when God has given us plant food in abundance. Wishing you well.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. PS I practice what I preach. I am not lonely in the slightest and people are always happy of my assistance, they know I am healthy and organised I will always come back to them within a day.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Haha found you! But SO TRUE. I also definitely agree about the culture wanting us to value ourselves and how it’s not good for us, and it’s amazing you can pack such a great message in few words! Thanks for brightening my day yet again 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment