What's in it for me?

OldWiseGuy

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The admonition to "be the change you wish to see in the world" (often attributed to Gandhi), has implicit within it benefits for mankind. If one heeds this advice, changes their life for the better, aren't they deserving of enjoying those benefits, regardless of not having any discernible effect on the world?
 

Ken-1122

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The admonition to "be the change you wish to see in the world" (often attributed to Gandhi), has implicit within it benefits for mankind. If one heeds this advice, changes their life for the better, aren't they deserving of enjoying those benefits, regardless of not having any discernible effect on the world?
The admonition you speak of is not about changing your life to better yourself, but for the better of all of mankind.
 
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Ada Lovelace

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The way you lead your own life and how you treat others, both in person and online, regardless of their position, does have a discernible impact on the world, even if it's on a much smaller and more local scale than grander efforts.

Being mindful and sincerely striving to have the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - does make a difference. What is inside your heart radiates outwards. The simple acts of being polite to the grocery store workers and thanking them, being considerate with your actions and thoughtful of how they impact others, that matters. Taking responsibility for yourself, making sure to clean up your own messes figurative and literal, pay what is owed on time, complete your tasks to the best of your ability, and fulfill your obligations and commitments with a positive attitude - all matters.

How you behave and how you treat others in significantly influences how others behave towards you. Every action has an opposite and equal reaction, so you need to think about your actions. Albert Einstein once said: “I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” That's wise. Showing that respect to each person you encounter is being the change you want to see in the world.
 
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dqhall

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The admonition to "be the change you wish to see in the world" (often attributed to Gandhi), has implicit within it benefits for mankind. If one heeds this advice, changes their life for the better, aren't they deserving of enjoying those benefits, regardless of not having any discernible effect on the world?
Hard work might enrich an employer and earn the laborer another paycheck. A little more hard labor broke the worker’s back.

Long distance truck drivers have an average life expectancy of 61 years. Dreams of retirement were time wasted. By the time a person gets old, the strength of one’s youth has passed.

Jesus changed the world for the better, so they nailed him to a cross. Three days later he was back at work.
 
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OldWiseGuy

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The admonition you speak of is not about changing your life to better yourself, but for the better of all of mankind.

But if the world doesn't get appreciably better do I return to being like everyone else or do I retain the benefits for myself? Do I put the whole wheat bread back on the shelf and return to eating the white bread?
 
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Tolworth John

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The admonition to "be the change you wish to see in the world" (often attributed to Gandhi), has implicit within it benefits for mankind. If one heeds this advice, changes their life for the better, aren't they deserving of enjoying those benefits, regardless of not having any discernible effect on the world?

By living as a Christian one hope, by example and through conversation, to see people become Christian.
Often we will not see that person become a Christian, but we will in eternity.

Living to change the world is not for our personal benefit.
But for the glory of God.
 
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OldWiseGuy

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By living as a Christian one hope, by example and through conversation, to see people become Christian.
Often we will not see that person become a Christian, but we will in eternity.

Living to change the world is not for our personal benefit.
But for the glory of God.

But we also receive the benefits, and justly so. "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn."
 
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OldWiseGuy

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Long distance truck drivers have an average life expectancy of 61 years. Dreams of retirement were time wasted. By the time a person gets old, the strength of one’s youth has passed.

Perhaps a little less dreaming and a little more planning?
 
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dqhall

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Perhaps a little less dreaming and a little more planning?
Jesus taught, “Sufficient to the day is the evil therein. Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”

The heavyweight champ Mike Tyson said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." He was talking about his team’s pre-fight strategy planning.

I suppose if I start praying for things to do I might have a better chance of finishing the day without worrying about whether or not I will be able to enjoy my things tomorrow.
 
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Ken-1122

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But if the world doesn't get appreciably better do I return to being like everyone else or do I retain the benefits for myself?
It all depends on why you chose to change your life for the better of all of mankind

Do I put the whole wheat bread back on the shelf and return to eating the white bread?
Depends on why you chose to eat whole wheat bread. It's your choice.
 
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OldWiseGuy

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Jesus taught, “Sufficient to the day is the evil therein. Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”

Best to replace worry with work. Jesus also said to stay busy until he returns.

The heavyweight champ Mike Tyson said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." He was talking about his team’s pre-fight strategy planning.

Then you go to plan B.

I suppose if I start praying for things to do I might have a better chance of finishing the day without worrying about whether or not I will be able to enjoy my things tomorrow.

Are you laid off?
 
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OldWiseGuy

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NeverL0ved

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The admonition to "be the change you wish to see in the world" (often attributed to Gandhi), has implicit within it benefits for mankind. If one heeds this advice, changes their life for the better, aren't they deserving of enjoying those benefits, regardless of not having any discernible effect on the world?
Change is a inevitable fact of life, because we live in a universe that is metamorphic by nature. Many humans on this planet resist change at such an early age, that when change becomes a matter of necessity, they will fight against the process rather than accept it.

Resisting change ultimately becomes so painful, that the human end's up inhuman :(
 
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Tolworth John

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But we also receive the benefits, and justly so. "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn."

Only if there is a benefit and even then do we have to claim it?
 
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Speedwell

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But if the world doesn't get appreciably better do I return to being like everyone else or do I retain the benefits for myself? Do I put the whole wheat bread back on the shelf and return to eating the white bread?
It sounds as if you think eating whole wheat bread instead of white bread is a form of righteous self-denial.
 
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Ken-1122

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Change is a inevitable fact of life, because we live in a universe that is metamorphic by nature. Many humans on this planet resist change at such an early age, that when change becomes a matter of necessity, they will fight against the process rather than accept it.
Just because it is a change does not mean it should be just blindly accepted. Not all change is for the better.
 
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