The writer of the Proverbs says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you. Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” I like that. Always act lovingly, always be kind, always be compassionate, and always just be nice, and your life will be better. To act lovingly is to be absolutely committed to work for the well-being of others. To act lovingly is to put others before self. That is how God designed life.
I meet a lot of people who are unhappy. You wouldn’t know it on the surface; they hide it in their social circles, but in their souls, if you really probe deeply, you find a hollow emptiness. I’ve come to this conclusion: that most unhappiness is created by self-centeredness, self-absorption, and selfishness. When we do life our way, which means we focus on ourselves instead of focusing on God and on others, we make a mess of things. Life is not about us. God’s wisdom is for us to act lovingly, always working for the well-being of others. Be kind, be compassionate, be nice, be committed to making life better for others—and you will be making life better for yourself.