The story is told of a man named George Boldt. George ran a small hotel in Philadelphia, which was often filled to capacity. During a convention, when his hotel was full, a plainly-dressed couple came in wanting a room. The couple obviously looked tired and worn out. He had no rooms available, but offered to sleep on a cot himself to give the couple his room. The weary couple that night were John Jacob Astor and his wife. In later years, Astor built the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel for John Boldt to operate. Suppose Boldt had not been inclined to give up his room? His whole life may have turned out differently.

In the area of mutual respect and interdependence, we are not faced with some of the situations of years ago. Most of us have ready access to water. There was a time when most people in the United States used pumps to get water from wells. There was always a cup of water sitting beside the pump. The purpose of the water was to prime the pump. If someone drank the cup of water, they could satisfy their thirst for a little while and leave nothing for anyone else. If they poured the water into the pump as they worked the handle, more water could be obtained to help the next person.

There is an inter-connectedness to life. If you do good things for others, generally it will be repaid. Of course, newspapers tell us that this is not always the case, but it is generally true. Jesus said, "For the measure you give will be the measure you get back." Luke 6:38. A contemporary writer, Ellen White, puts it this way in the book Desire of Ages p. 21 "....All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father's life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Crhsit the circuit of beneficience is conplete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life." This is the law of service, or the law of selfless love.

There is a higher law at work here than survival of the fittest. As we serve and minister to the needs of others, our bodies and minds benefit. When you do something special for a friend or loved one, think about how good you feel. By doing good to others, we receive a blessing as well. The Old Testament book of Proverbs tells us in Proverbs 3:9,10 ""Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine".

Mutual respect and interdepence is an important law of life.