Looking Out for #1?
Scripture — 1 Corinthians 10:24 (NIV)
No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
Focus
Years ago, Robert Ringer published the bestselling book Looking Out for #1. He encouraged us to put ourselves first in life, exercising rational self-interest in all of our decisions and relationships. Ringer’s advice doesn’t fit well with what we find in Scripture, however. In fact, the Apostle Paul once wrote to one of his churches, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (1 Cor 10:24, NIV). Not exactly “Looking Out for #1.” But, we wonder, what does Paul really mean? How can we truly seek the good of others but not our own good? Today’s devotion introduces a Life for Leaders series called Living and Leading for the Good of Others. In the next few weeks, I want to discover what it means to live and lead for the good of others in imitation of Jesus. And I am eager, not just to know what this means, but also to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do it.
Today’s devotion is part of the series: Living and Leading for the Good of Others.
Devotion
When I was in college, Robert Ringer published Looking Out for #1. After an initial self-publishing effort, this book was officially released in 1977 by Funk & Wagnalls. Quickly, it climbed to the top of the New York Times bestseller list, remaining on that list for months. By 1981, Looking Out for #1 had sold over two million copies.
For a while, it seemed like everyone was talking about this book, so I decided to read it. I could see why it was popular because it was both easy to read and provocative. Plus, it offered self-help that promised to make my life better.
Yes, Ringer did encourage his readers to “look out for #1,” first and foremost. His basic assumption was that “self-interest is genetically programmed into every human being. You have no choice in the matter” (p. 83). Yet, Ringer argues, it’s not wrong to put yourself and your interests first. Rather, he explains,
Looking out for number one begins with the belief that you have a moral right to take actions aimed at giving you the greatest amount of pleasure and least amount of pain, provided your actions do not violate the rights of others (p. 1).
That still leaves room for things like caring for those you love, according to Ringer. He writes, “It’s noble to give top priority to the needs of loved ones, because their happiness is often the greatest source of your happiness” (p. 7). So, we should love others, not primarily for their benefit, but for our own benefit. By loving others, we increase our own happiness.
For Ringer, this means that sacrificial actions are suspect, especially when you’re not closely related to those for whom you act sacrificially. “An important tenet of looking out for number one, however, is that you have no moral obligation to submit to playing the role of sacrificial lamb whose interests, goals, and happiness are always subordinated to the interests, goals, and happiness of everyone with whom you come in contact” (p. 1).
No surprise that Ringer isn’t fond of the sacrificial lamb idea. Thus, I expect he wouldn’t be too pleased with what John the Baptist said when Jesus approached him, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Ringer might be even more uncomfortable with the Apostle Paul’s assertion in 1 Corinthians 5:7, “For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.”
Perhaps even more unsettling for fans of “Looking Out for #1” is what we read 1 Corinthians 10:24, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (NIV). A few verses later, Paul points to himself as an example of this principle: ” I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (10:33, NIV). Why does Paul put the good of others before his own good? In part, “so that they may be saved” through Paul’s gospel ministry. But immediately after saying this, he adds, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (11:1, NIV).
Paul has chosen to follow the example of Christ, the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sin of the world. This, Paul writes, is what all who belong to Christ should do. We should seek, not our own good, but the good of others. In this way, we imitate Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who is our Savior.
I believe what I just wrote, for sure. I think it’s both correct and crucial. Yet I feel questions churning within me. Is it really that clear-cut? Does seeking the good of others mean utterly denying what is good for me? After all, Jesus affirmed the fundamental Old Testament command, “Love your neighbor as yourself!” (Lev 19:18; Matt 22:39). Doesn’t this assume that we should love ourselves in addition to our neighbor? And wouldn’t this include seeking what is good for ourselves? Moreover, didn’t Paul once write to Timothy that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim 6:17)? And didn’t Paul also say that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who_ _have been called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28, NIV). If God is working for my good, does that mean I can share in God’s work for me? Or is it always wrong for me to seek what’s good for myself?
I could ask a bunch more questions, but I assume you get my point. Maybe you even share my wonderings. Though I really do want to follow biblical guidance about seeking the good of others, I want to do this wisely and well. I want to know what it means for me to live and lead for the sake of others in imitation of Jesus. And I am eager, not just to know what this means, but also to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do it. I am all too aware that my tendency to “look out for #1,” first and foremost, can keep me from looking out for others, including those whom God has entrusted to my care as a leader.
Today’s devotion begins a series I’m calling Living and Leading for the Good of Others. This series is part of the De Pree Center’s quarterly theme: “Seeking the Best for Others.” As usual, I’ll be exploring facets of this theme with a devotional intent, drawing from the rich wisdom of Scripture to help you reflect and pray. Plus, as usual, I welcome input from you: your comments, questions, stories, and concerns. You can reach me at [email protected].
Reflect
Have you ever asked questions like those I asked above? What are your wonderings when it comes to seeking what’s good for others?
Have you ever known someone who consistently seeks the best for others, even when it is costly to that person? If so, what was that person like? Why did that person live in such a sacrificial way?
In your leadership, have you ever faced a decision in which what seemed to be better for others was not obviously better for you? What did you do? Why?
Act
Ask the Lord to help you and all who are part of the Life for Leaders community, including me, to know what it means to seek the good of others in our life and leadership.
Pray
Gracious God, in a world in which looking out for number one is so common, even acceptable, you call us to something different. Teach us, we pray, what it means to imitate the self-giving love of Christ. Show us how we can seek the good of others even more than our own good. Then, we pray, help us to do it. Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God’s Glory is the Ultimate Goal (1 Corinthians 10).
Mark D. Roberts
Senior Fellow
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and t...