How to Change the World

Last week, the world lost a great innovator: Steve Jobs. People on Wall Street are trying to change the world through protest. People from Mother Theresa to Ghandi have been changing the world for centuries. Here are some things to keep in mind if you want to change the world:

1. Start with yourself. It won’t do you any good to change the world, even to gain the whole world, if you lose your soul. Evidently, Steve Jobs didn’t do this, as he claimed to be a Buddhist, but if you don’t repent of your sins and develop a relationship with Jesus Christ, you will find out that everything that you do in life amounts to nothing in the end. Sure, you might still change the world, but you’ll regret not taking care of your soul first. Just like the pilot will tell you to put your air mask on first before helping a small child, it’s important to take care of yourself first. In addition, becoming a follower of Jesus will help you prevent making ethical mistakes that can bring all of your hard work down in the end. Ask Bernie Madoff, or any politician whose adulterous relationship was discovered.

2. Take care of your family. Families might not be glamorous like being on television can be, but like the proverbial butterfly whose wing flaps cause a hurricane halfway across the world, creating a strong family can change the history of the world forever. For example, a girl recently traced every president’s ancestry (except one) to John of Lackland. Even President Obama’s ancestry goes back to him. Some people see this as a conspiracy, but millions of people (including myself) can trace their ancestry to him. Think about what would have happened if John of Lackland didn’t take care of his kids and let them camp out in front of the palace instead of teaching them to work hard? While John’s career did have quite a bit of corruption, at least he had enough sense to make sure that his kids were taken care of.

One person that didn’t take care of their family was Eli in the Bible. He may have been a great mentor to Samuel, and might have been a wonderful High Priest, but he didn’t take care of his kids. They turned out so rotten, in fact, that God killed them. On the other hand, the Pilgrims have some pretty successful descendants (they are not in my family tree, but I can trace my ancestry to Jamestown).

3. Serve others. This may seem like it’s backwards, but it’s true. People didn’t buy iPads because they liked Steve Jobs; they bought iPads because they are a good product. People watch Glenn Beck because he entertains them and provides them with information. While you can fool some people for a short time through manipulation, in the end, people will see through it.

Serving others can start with small things, like doing the best at whatever job you are in. Make it a point to smile, even if you’re the check-out person at Wal-Mart. You never know how you will affect someone. If you have time, help someone at your church or volunteer at your local school. Again, you never know how you’re going to change someone’s life.

If you’re doing these things, you never know what opportunities may await. Rosa Parks never meant to stir up trouble when she refused to move on the bus. Steve Jobs might not have imagined how much the computer would change the world. If you’re doing the right thing and the opportunity presents itself, seize the day. You never know what will happen.