Articles & Devotionals
SELF ISH NESS
Who, me? Selfish? Well, I must admit, sometimes it’s true. If I didn’t, my kids and wife would remind me otherwise. In fact, being married and having kids has helped me to see the selfishness in my life. While growing up, I read about the unselfish life of Jesus – how “He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” (Acts 10:28) I learned of His compassion and good deeds toward those who were sick or hurting spiritually (Matthew 9:36). He was so unselfish that he left glory in heaven to come to be the sacrifice for my sins and those of the whole world (Philippians 2:5-9). In Bible class I also learned about doing good deeds toward family, neighbors, and fellow believers. I learned how Jesus said to, “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) and “however you want people to treat you, so treat them” (Matthew 7:12). And there were many times in my youth that I (on purpose, mind you) put what I was taught into practice. But when I became a husband and later a father, I came to realize what it meant to demonstrate unselfishness not only when I wanted to or planned to, but even when it was inconvenient or difficult.
Kids teach us about unselfishness. They teach us to walk a little (OK, sometimes a lot) slower for someone else’s benefit, to listen and speak more carefully, to care when someone else is hurting or sick. When their little bodies get tired and need to be carried, they teach us that others have burdens too (cf Galatians 6:2-3). When they lack wisdom in crossing the street, they remind us that we are not living our lives just by or for ourselves. When they get to be teenagers, they teach us how to respect others enough to listen to their concerns (for money of course J).
Could it be that maybe one of the reasons so many of us have a problem with selfishness is that we all are interested in our selves? It can be seen in the most insignificant aspects of our day-to-day experiences. We want the best seat available and the closest parking space. At the grocery store, we search for another check-out stand to open so we can get the jump on other folks. Why do we do this? Because we are important. Our time is valuable. We are in a hurry. We’ve got things to do, places to go. We want to be first and have the best. Could it be true that our interest in our selves might keep us from being more like Jesus? Doesn’t discipleship call us to deny our selves and follow Christ’s example in serving others.
When you became a Christian, you surrendered self to the Lord. You made a choice to allow God to be at the center of your life. At baptism you were crucified with Christ and became a servant of God (Romans 6:3-6; cf Colossians 3:9). Now you can say as the apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I not live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). Now your life’s desire is to live the way Jesus wants you to live. Your desire is to care about others the way your Savior cared, unselfishly.
