Did you take part in shopping last weekend? Maybe you saw that in some of the stores there was fighting going on. I don't mean just pushing and shoving, but fighting.

In a Wal-Mart in Georgia they opened the doors to let the shoppers in and the crowd descended. Everyone was trying to get a discounted iphone. They were screaming (for what purpose I do not know) and one lady was seen biting, yes biting, another person.

This time of the year is a time of giving and sharing. Yet what we get is people trying to get an advantage over everyone else. Some people wait in line for days to be first in the store to get the best deal. Others may wait until the day of the sale but are then going to go to extremes to get what they want.

When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he responded by saying, "to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." He then said, "the second is like to it to love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22). How much love was shown at this store the other evening?

On another occasion Jesus was preaching and said, "Do unto others as you have them do unto you." (Matthew 7:12). This we call the golden rule. There are other "rules" some go by. "Do unto others before they do unto you." This needs no explanation. Yet many people have decided this is the motif they will live by.

Jesus has a certain way he expects his children to live. It is not one where we are putting ourselves first. Over and over again we hear Jesus say it is others before yourself. That would be the best way for any of us to live our lives.

Consider Paul's words in Philippians 2:3,4, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." (NASB). Paul lets us know that others first is the proper way to live our lives. So many times we get caught up in our own way of living that we forget others' needs. May we never push, shove or bite to get advantage. Love is the best way!