Parking lot dings; it seems you can’t avoid them. Not only so, my car seems to attract them! I’ve never had as many on any other vehicle I’ve owned than on this one. It seems every time I come out from wherever I have it parked, someone has left their mark on it, literally. One went down the entire passenger side, starting at the back gas cover door to the front bumper. Another is on the driver side front bumper, with scratches so deep the paint is gone. Furthermore, the passenger side door has had about 100 identifiable spots where people opening their doors has whacked mine.
In times past, people seemed more concerned about making sure such things didn’t happen, because they didn’t want anyone doing the same thing to their vehicles. However, in today’s environment, people don’t seem to care. No notes are left, either of apology or of insurance, and if you catch someone in the act, they act offended if you mention it.
All of this illustrates how courtesy seems to have disappeared. When selfishness rules, others don’t matter. “So what if I put a scratch in your paint? I was in a hurry.” “I don’t have time to be careful opening my door.” “So what if I came in too wide and fast? You shouldn’t have parked where I wanted to be anyway.” It’s easy to justify selfish actions, at least until it happens to us.
While dings in a car may seem minor, do we offer similar excuses when we put self above God? “Sunday is my only day to rest; I can’t take the time to worship.” “My budget is stretched; I can’t give to the Lord.” “Don’t even think about asking me to get involved in the work of the church; you have no idea all the things I have to do.” “I can’t help others; do you see anyone helping me?”
It’s a good thing God loves us more than we seem to love Him, otherwise what would our lives be like? Would He have sent His Son to die for us? Would He see that our physical needs are met? Would He offer us strength for our weaknesses or comfort in our distress? Paul put it best when he wrote, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). God being there for us has nothing to do with our worthiness, but rather the commitment of His love to us.
With our feelings for God must come a commitment as well, a commitment to exemplify God alive in us. We must think beyond ourselves and be concerned about others. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5). As servants of our Lord, we must be kind to all (2 Timothy 2:24), just as He is kind to us all.
We can bemoan how much no one seems to care anymore, but the place to begin in making changes is with ourselves. It can start with a car door, progress to our faithfulness in serving God and go all the way to sharing the Gospel to someone lost without it. It’s not all about me; it’s all about God and His love in Christ. What a difference that can make in us, others and the world.
