Life is a mystery, ever-changing and complex. Uncertain, and unpredictable. But amidst the chaos, one truth remains; life happens in phases. Most people’s lives can be classified into three phases: dependence, independence, and interdependence. The first phase of life is marked by dependence on others. We are born helpless and rely on our parents or caregivers for everything from food to shelter to love. The second phase of life is distinguished by independence. We leave our childhood homes and start to build our own lives. The third phase of life is characterized by interdependence. We may still be independent in many ways, but we also start to rely on others again.
It is important to understand and consider your life through this perspective. It will change your outlook on life and relationships. As you gain independence, you may begin to think, “I want to live my life.” As a result, you begin to lead a life without regard for others or the greater society. This would be a mistake. God never intended for us to spend our lives without regard for the needs of others. Philippians 2: 3-4 (NIV), “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
The Holy Bible commands you to prioritise God above everything else, people next, and yourself last. It is not fair for others to have spent decades investing in you, and now, you insist you just want to live your life. The society raised you when you were a dependent. And someday, you will still need others to support you. There would be no society if everyone did what made them happy at the expense of family and the community. Jesus tells us in the Bible to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31), while the Apostle Paul encourages Christians to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).
