BE SENSITIVE TO OTHERS

Philippians 2:4 NKJV, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”.

Philippians 2:4 CEV, “Care about them as much as you care about yourselves”

Be sensitive to the needs  of people  around  you. Being sensitive is being kind, caring, able to pick up on the feelings of others, and aware of their needs and behaving in a way that helps them feel good. Being sensitive is often a good thing. It helps us respond to people and be alert of the danger. We need to be sensitive to God & also to people – so mind what you say. We need to be to  be sensitive to the fact that some of  the things we  say/do hurt people, and hurting people hurt people.

Often in a relationship or friendship, people are unaware of the other person’s needs. They become calloused, stop listening and are oblivious to the pressure others are under. Simply stated, the root of many problems in a relationship is insensitivity. Everyone you meet needs kindness.

We find a great example of sensitivity in the life of King David. David’s friend, Jonathan – Saul’s son – had been killed. Now, safely enthroned for several years, David made a rare request. He asked if anyone was left in Saul’s family that he could help. He discovered Saul’s grandson – Jonathan’s son – Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet. When David sent for him, Mephibosheth almost certainly thought, ‘I’m going to be killed because I am a member of the enemy’s family, the old dynasty.’ But notice David’s words: ‘Don’t be afraid…for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table’ (2 Samuel 9:7 NIV). Mephibosheth’s reaction is interesting: ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’ (2 Samuel 9:8 NIV). He felt like a dog and expected to be treated like one. But the point you need to notice is this: David took time, made the effort and was sensitive to his needs.

One of life’s dangers is that busyness and pressures can make you insensitive towards others – be more sensitive to what is going on around you, who’s hurting (1 Cor: 9: 19-22)