"A human being is not born for the sake of their self but for the sake of others. That is, they are born not to live for their self alone but for others. Otherwise there could be no cohesive society, nor any good in it."
(True Christian Religion 406)
One of the great challenges in life is coming to see ourselves as a part of a greater whole — and caring for that whole. It is one thing to care for those right around us. These relationships are tangible and affect us directly. It is another thing to care for those whom we don't see.
"Out of sight, out of mind!" This tends to be the human mode! It's easy to stay in the moment, and 'in the room'. This is why it's so important to think about the impact of our life! To reflect!
'Think globally, act locally' is a wonderful phrase. Many things about the common good are beyond our ability to grasp. But if we act with integrity in our own sphere, we are in fact contributing to that greater good. But unless we cultivate the practice of 'thinking globally' we tend to revert to a small — even selfish — perspective in the activities we're involved in. The more we 'think globally', the more rewarding our work becomes, and the more clearly we're able to see ways to do things that serve the greater good.
How can we cultivate the practice of reflecting on the greater good?... Including the good of 'the Lord's kingdom' in our daily prayers is a good place to start. (That greater good is certainly involved in the phrase from the Lord's Prayer 'Thy kingdom come'.) And thinking of ourselves not just as an individual, but as a part of humanity. (As we pray "Our Father…")
The following passages from the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church touch on the theme of the common good, and how our efforts to do our daily work sincerely, justly and faithfully (ie. 'locally') are key to serving and loving that greater good.
Charity itself (that is, the best way to love the neighbour) is acting justly and faithfully in the office, business and employment in which a person is engaged, because all that such a person does is of use to society... This is charity itself, because charity may be defined as doing good to the neighbour daily and continually, not only to the neighbour individually, but also to the neighbour collectively. And this can be accomplished only through [engaging in] what is good and just in the office, business and employment in which a person is engaged, and with those with whom they have any dealings.
True Christian Religion 422-3
Christian charity for everyone is to perform their function faithfully. For in doing so, if they refrain from evils as sins, they daily do good, and they themselves become their own useful part in the general body. For thus they also promote the welfare of the whole, and of each of its members in particular.
Doctrine of the New Jerusalem regarding Life 114
A life [lived] from a love of uses is a life of love of the public good and of love to the neighbour, and also a life of love to the Lord. For the Lord performs uses to a human being through a human being. Consequently a life of the love of uses is the spiritual Divine life, and everyone who loves a good use and does it from a love for it is loved by the Lord, and is received with joy by the angels in heaven...
The essence of uses is the public good. With the angels the public good in the most general sense means the good of the entire heaven, in a less general sense the good of the society, and in a particular sense the good of the fellow citizen. But with people [in the world] the essence of uses in the most general sense is both the spiritual and the civil good of the whole human race, in a less general sense the good of the country, in a particular sense the good of a society, and in an individual sense the good of the fellow citizen. And since these goods constitute the essence of uses, love is their life, since all good is of love and the life is in the love.
In this love is everyone who takes delight in the use they are engaged in because of its usefulness, whether they are a king, a magistrate, a priest, a minister, a general, a merchant, or a labourer. Everyone who takes delight in the use of their function because of its usefulness loves their country and fellow citizens. But they who do not take delight in it because of its usefulness, but do it solely for the sake of self, or solely for the sake of honour and wealth, do not in their heart love their country and fellow citizens, but only their self and the world. This is because no one can be kept by the Lord in love to the neighbour unless they are in some love for the public good. And no one can be in that love unless they are in a love of use for the sake of use, or in the love of use from use, thus from the Lord.
Apocalypse Explained 1226.6-7
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