In the past few weeks I came across an article that got my attention on LinkedIn. It was titled, People Who Push Their Chair Back in When They Leave a Table Usually Display These 8 Unique Qualities, by Jitendra Patel. I was immediately attracted to read it because I always push my chair in. I never even thought about it before, honestly. It’s second nature to me. And I realized as I was reading that not only do I push my chair in, but I’ll go around the table and push other chairs in too…sometimes even if it’s not my table. When I’m dining out and I notice a chair left out as I’m walking by, I always push it in.
To me, it is simple consideration.
I noticed what Patel had to say and had some thoughts of my own…
Consideration Is One of the Purest Expressions of Love
You don’t have to know someone well to be considerate of them. You don’t have to agree on everything. You don’t have to have anything in common. Consideration is simply this: Choosing to think about how your actions affect someone else—and then acting accordingly.
It doesn’t require money.
It doesn’t require position.
It doesn’t require a platform.
Just a heart turned outward instead of inward. The Apostle Paul said it best: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) That doesn’t mean devaluing yourself. It means elevating the importance of others enough to pause, notice, and respond.
Consideration Teaches Us to See Beyond Ourselves
I didn’t write this post to call anyone out, but I can’t help noticing certain patterns. The same people who never push their chair in are often the ones who rush to the front of the line at a church potluck and pile their plates high—three pieces of fried chicken, multiple deviled eggs, without a thought for the many people coming behind them who may not get any. When I see behavior like that, I usually chalk it up to a simple lack of awareness, habits that weren’t taught or modeled.
And here’s the good news: if you’re reading this and suddenly realize, “Oh no… that might be me,” there’s absolutely no shame in it. Awareness is a gift. And you can change today—right now. Start by pushing your chair in. Start by waiting until everyone has eaten before you go back for seconds. Start by looking around and asking, “Who else might need this moment of kindness?”
It’s really that simple to grow in consideration, and those small choices make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people around you.
Most inconsiderate moments don’t come from people who are intentionally rude. They come from people who are unintentionally self-absorbed…people rushing, preoccupied, distracted, or unaware.
But consideration slows us down and forces us to look up. It asks:
Who else is affected by what I’m doing right now?
How can I leave this better than I found it?
What small act could lighten someone’s load today?
These are the questions that shape Christlike character.
There are also times when someone isn’t actually being inconsiderate—they may simply be overwhelmed. At my office, I occasionally walk into the kitchen and notice a dish or cup left in the sink. While I usually don’t leave my own dishes behind, I’ll admit there have been a few times when I set something down on my way to the restroom, fully intending to wash it when I returned… and then got distracted or pulled into something urgent.
So when I see a dish in the sink, I could choose to get frustrated about someone’s possible inconsideration. But instead, I try to assume the best. Maybe they were having a hectic moment. Maybe they were overwhelmed or dealing with something heavy. Maybe it simply slipped their mind, the same way it sometimes slips mine.
So I wash the dish, dry it, and place it on the counter—no announcement, no irritation. Just a small act of consideration toward whoever left it. Sometimes kindness looks like giving people the benefit of the doubt, remembering that they have a whole life outside the office. Some days they may walk in carrying stress from home. Other days they’re overwhelmed by work. And sometimes, it’s both.
A little grace can go a long way.
Jesus continually noticed the overlooked. He saw the woman reaching for His cloak. He noticed Zacchaeus in the tree. He felt the hunger of the crowds and the tears of the grieving. He modeled what it looks like to walk through the world with eyes open. So much of a difference is made when we just take time to look at other people and what is going on in their lives.
Consideration Is a Ministry—Even When No One Sees or Acknowledges It
Some of the most meaningful ministry happens when no one is watching or clapping:
Letting someone go ahead in traffic.
Returning the shopping cart.
Picking up trash that isn’t yours.
Holding the door for a stranger.
Leaving a place cleaner than you found it.
Speaking gently instead of sharply.
Choosing patience over irritation.
These small, quiet moments shape the atmosphere around us. They preach a sermon without words. They say: “I’m thinking of you. I see you. You matter.” And in a world where so many feel invisible, that matters more than we know.
Consideration Reflects Our Spiritual Maturity
Spiritual growth is not proven by how loudly we worship but by how gently we treat the people around us.
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4
If we want to know how Christlike we are, we can ask a simple question: “How do my actions impact the people around me?”
Consideration is holiness in motion. It is righteousness with hands and feet. It is kindness disguised as everyday actions.
The World Is Watching
Not only is the world watching, but they are hungry for this kind of love. The truth is, people are exhausted by a world that constantly screams:
“Me first.”
“My needs.”
“My agenda.”
“My convenience.”
Consideration whispers:
“You first.”
“Your comfort.”
“Your dignity.”
“Your day matters too.”
When believers consistently show this kind of thoughtfulness, it stands out. It testifies. It heals. It makes people wonder what kind of God forms hearts like that.
This week, I challenge you to try something different, if you’re not doing it already. Let’s look for one simple moment each day to show intentional consideration, something that helps someone else breathe a little easier.
Push the chair in.
Return the cart.
Pick up the stray cup.
Speak kindly.
Pause before responding.
Notice what others overlook.
These are not small things.
They are seeds.
And these small choices grow a harvest of kindness, peace, and graciousness everywhere we go. You might find this surprising, but I’ve actually led people to the Lord simply through simple acts of consideration. It catches their attention. It opens a door for conversation. And once the door is open, God often does the rest. The consideration was the spark that started the fire.
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