Once upon a time, a king had a great highway built for the people who lived in his kingdom.
After it was completed, but before it was opened to the public, the king decided to have a contest.
He invited as many of his subjects as desired to participate. The challenge was to see who could travel the highway the best, and the winner was to receive a box of gold.
On the day of the contest, many people came.
Some of them had fine chariots, some had fine clothing and fancy food to make the trip a luxurious journey.
Some wore their sturdiest shoes and ran along the highway on their feet to show their skill.
All day people traveled the highway. However, each one, when arriving at the end, complained to the king about a large pile of rocks and debris that had been left almost blocking the road at one point; the rocks got in their way and hindered their travel.
At the end of the day, a lone traveler crossed the finish line and walked warily over to the King. He was tired and dirty, but he addressed the King with great respect and handed him a small chest of gold.
He said, "I stopped along the way to clear a pile of rocks and debris that were blocking the road. This chest of gold was under it all. Please have it returned to its rightful owner."
The king replied, "You are the rightful owner."
"Oh no," said the traveler, "This is not mine. I've never known such money."
"Oh yes," said the king, "you've earned this gold, for you won my contest. He who travels the road best is he who makes the road better for those who will follow."
- Author Unknown
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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:3-7 NIV
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17 NIV
Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:24 NLT
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