“My uncle Charlie took his black poodle to the veterinarian the other day.”
“No, Hon, uncle Charlie’s poodle is brown not black.”
“He’s my uncle; I know his poodle is black!”
“I distinctly recall its color!”
Pettiness. That’s right. This couple is involved in pure pettiness. Who cares if the poodle is black, brown or purple? We still don’t know why uncle Charlie took his poodle to the vet. But we do know that these two people are very small. Self-interest occupies their attention; selflessness never enters their mind.
Friends, God put us on earth so we could contribute to one another’s welfare. “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,” Philippians 2:3-4. “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others, 1 Corinthians 10:24.
Arguments over petty issues reveal that we remain self-centered. God plainly wants us to be others-centered. Why is it so easy to be self-centered? Because we aren’t God-centered.
You see, God-centered people trust God to meet their needs. This trust frees us from depending only upon humans. When people fail us, we remain confident in God. We don’t use petty arguments to force others to meet our needs. God is going to take care of us even when humans fail us. We give ourselves to blessing those who fail us. God-centeredness always keeps us selfless.
Incidentally, I still don’t know why uncle Charlie took his poodle to the vet, LOL.
It’s fun to do good when doing good is easy. When rewards for well-doing abound, we rejoice in our labor. We gladly look forward to carrying out our responsibilities and finishing “to do” lists. Work seems like recreation. 
“Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me,” 2 Timothy 4:10. What? How could this fellow worker and friend of the great apostle Paul just walk away from his love for Jesus? How could someone who preached the Gospel and frequently fellowshipped with Paul, love this present sinful world? How could he possible turn away from the Jesus who forgave his sins and baptized him into the Holy Spirit?
Read the Word, hear it preached and discussed. During your day purposefully recall passages of Scripture and think about them. This meditation on God’s Word releases God’s refreshing power in you. Strength, encouragement, joy and fearlessness control you.
After his team lost a game, I heard a basketball coach say, “I’ve never felt so positive about a loss.” I don’t know if the man was a Christian, but his statement is very Scriptural. Every born again, Jesus-loving Christian can have the faith to feel positive about the losses that life brings. 
Two thousand years ago God’s people felt unblessed. Sure, they repeatedly read the promises God pronounced upon their ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but where were the blessings? A foreign government manipulated their lives and ruthlessly repressed all yearnings for independence. Poverty afflicted almost everyone and religious leaders used their influence for self-gratification. 
God likes company. In fact, he likes lots and lots and lots of company.
Panic stricken, fear filled messengers burst into King Jehoshaphat’s throne room. “A huge enemy army from three hostile nations is marching against us, oh King,” 2 Chronicles 20:2. 
“God, let me die!” Elijah begged. To further bolster his excuse for depression, Elijah pointed out that “everyone’s forsaken you and I’m the only true believer left.”