Improve the World

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Romans 7:15 NIV)

The writer E.B. White once commented, "I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.  This makes it hard to plan the day." I'm sure this is a struggle all of us have to one extent or another. Even Paul talks about the trouble this phenomena gives him when he says,"I don't do what I want, but I do what I hate."

Now most of us will not have holidays named after us for improving the world in any significant ways, and human nature will always be after us to please ourselves rather than others. But with each decision we make during the course of each day we have a choice of improving the world or simply enjoying the world.

It is the choice we make between serving a home-cooked meal at a homeless shelter or going out to eat...again. It is the choice between giving your spare change to the Christian Ministry collection at the supermarket or tossing it in your own overflowing change jar at home. It is a choice between taking offense or letting it go... Holding a grudge or forgiving. It is the choice between wearing a scowl all day or smiling at each person you encounter.

Improving the world doesn't always mean solving world hunger or balancing the national budget. If everyone always made the decision to improve the world in the these smaller ways, the bigger problems would practically take care of themselves. The wonderful paradox God offers is that when we decide to improve the world rather than enjoy the world, we actually enjoy the world a whole lot more than we would have.

Father,
Guide us in every choice we make today. Amen.