Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4

Many of us first realize how different we are from one another when first living with a roommate or a spouse. It’s a quick jump from “Well, that’s different…” to “Your way is wrong!”

The lyrics of a song for young children song say, “Search all the world over, there’s no one like you, no one like you, no one like you!” We teach children that not only are they one of kind, but that everyone else is too! We don’t have the same giftings, habits or needs. Some personalities recharge by going out with friends, while others prefer to relax by staying home. Some people feel refreshed by living in an immaculately clean space, while others feel more comfortable in a laid-back environment. It’s easy to see these differences and wonder who is right and wrong. While the Bible does explain what sin is, there are countless habits that are neither right or wrong– they’re just preferences! Validating people’s needs and preferences can be challenging, but it is a part of living and working with others.

Is there someone in your life you’ve been hard on or compared too closely to your way of thinking? Scripture says, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:3-4). When you think this way of others, you can approach their differences with curiosity rather than criticism and interest rather than indifference.

Remember, our differences help us balance each other out, preventing us from becoming too extreme or narrow-minded. Differences makes our world more complicated, but bring beauty, balance, and perspective– all of which show us the greatness and creativity of our God!