Look down, not up

My Cameroonian friend and colleague just returned from a neighboring country where he performed more than one hundred surgeries for children. When I asked about his trip he said, “I’m so thankful for Cameroon.” He spoke of the country he had visited: how there were many children not going to school, poverty, and hunger. He was truly thankful to be back in his home country. I’m not used to hearing about Cameroon in this context. After all, Cameroon ranks 153rd in the world for human development. One may be tempted to say they have a right to complain. And yet, my colleague is not complaining. Instead he’s thanking God for placing him in a great country such as Cameroon.

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances.

I recently heard a wise surgeon say that if he became immensely rich, he would still be looking under the last stone for more money. This was his way of saying that constantly looking up is a trap.The reality is that no matter what your background is, you will be tempted to look up. That next best thing will be the answer to my problems. Or perhaps what’s worse, “If I could just have what he has, I could really accomplish something.” If I could just get that promotion. If I could just get this much money. If I could go to that school. The moment I look up to glare at someone else’s wealth, I’ve immediately forgotten how wealthy I am. My thankfulness vanishes, leading to a complaining attitude. By looking up, it’s seems that God hasn’t given me as much as that next person.

But what happens when we look down? What happens when we reach out to the poor, like my colleague just did. God’s blessings in our life become clearer. We stop complaining. We become thankful. Suddenly that thing we had desired so much either fades away or turns to healthy ambition. We also see the opportunity to help someone. Much like the high ground gives an advantage in battle, it also gives us the opportunity to look down. While looking up leaves us anxious, bitter, and frustrated, looking down brings contentment and opportunity.

Don’t miss looking down today. Remember the blessings in your life. See your own opportunity to make a difference with what God have given you. Cameroon may not be a rich material country, but God’s people here see it for what it really is: a country rich in opportunity to serve God and to serve people.