In the World – What’s In It For Me?!

Many years ago, President John F. Kennedy famously challenged Americans with these words: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

Fast-forward to 2026, in the middle of another election season, and I can’t help but notice how far removed so much of our political messaging seems to be from that sentiment. If we were to rewrite Kennedy’s famous words to reflect the spirit of our times, perhaps they would read something like this: “Ask not what you can do for your country, but what your country must do for you!”

What happened to the idea of putting others before ourselves? What happened to selflessness, to loving our neighbors as ourselves, and to recognizing that sometimes the greater good requires personal sacrifice? When did we become so focused on what we think we are owed by others that we lost sight of what we have the opportunity to give?

Think about the brave soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy during World War II. Many of them knew they might never make it off those beaches alive. Yet they went anyway. They were willing to risk everything because something mattered more than their own comfort, safety, or personal interests. They were fighting for their country, their loved ones, and against an evil that threatened the world. They weren’t asking, “What’s in it for me?” They were willing to sacrifice for something greater than themselves.

And this isn’t merely a patriotic ideal. It’s a biblical one.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, ESV). Jesus didn’t just speak those words; He demonstrated them. He willingly laid down His life for us. The Word of God consistently calls those of us who follow Jesus to love others sacrificially, to put the needs of others before our own selfish ambitions, and to live for something greater than ourselves.

This is good! This is the way!

Revelation 12:11 tells us that, in the end, believers will overcome Satan “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Think about that for a moment. Our victory rests on the finished work of Jesus, and our willingness to remain faithful—even when it costs us everything—is part of the testimony we bear. We serve a Savior who gave everything for us, and we are called to follow Him with that same kind of selfless devotion.

So here’s the question: How will we overcome Satan if we can’t even overcome our own selfishness and minor inconveniences?

If our faith falls apart when following Jesus costs us comfort, money, time, or convenience, what happens when the cost is much greater? If we’re unwilling to sacrifice for our neighbors, our families, our churches, or the truth of God’s Word, how can we expect to stand firm when our faith is truly tested?

The world will always give us reasons to put ourselves first, but followers of Jesus are called to a different way of living. We are called to love, to serve, and to sacrifice—not to earn salvation, but because the One who saved us first demonstrated that kind of love toward us. Our lives are no longer simply about what we can gain, but about how we can faithfully serve the One who gave everything to redeem us.

Perhaps Kennedy’s question is a good place to start: What can we do for our country? But as followers of Jesus, we must be willing to take that question even further. What can we do for the Kingdom of God? How can we serve those God has placed around us? Where is the LORD calling us to put someone else’s needs before our own? And are we willing to do it even when it costs us something?

Because in the end, the question isn’t simply what we can do for our country. It’s what we’re willing to do for our King.