Over the years, I have noticed an increase of a specific trait that has caused tension with the way we (meaning God’s children) live our lives. The act of selfishness has allowed people to ignore others and lose sight of truly loving each other. This trait has been around for years, and to me it is always swept under the rug. It is not something that just dwells in millennials, it happens to everyone. This is an issue that needs to be critiqued now. If we decide to continue to be selfish, we will end up falling short of God’s word, as well as His glory. The act of selfishness is the lack of consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure. Philippians 2:3-4 says “Don’t be selfish, don’t try to impress others. Be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests.” It’s natural for people to care for themselves, but when it’s at the expense of someone who may be in need, and it ends up affecting them negatively is when the line needs to be drawn.
Take David for an example (2 Samuel 11:1-27). One day, David met a woman by the name of Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite. Bathsheba was taking a bath when David noticed her. He sent his messenger to get her. David and Bathsheba grew close. Bathsheba later found out that she was expecting. Bathsheba sent out the message to David, and in return David sent for Uriah the Hittite, which was her husband. David became friends with Uriah and showed his concern for the war that was going on between the Israelite army and the Ammonites. He then encouraged Uriah to go home, but Uriah felt that he should not wine and dine while the war was still going on. David invited Uriah to stay until the next day where he ended up getting Uriah inebriated. This action was not enough to get Uriah to go home. David then wrote a letter to Joab, which Uriah delivered, stating to have Uriah stationed on the front line where the war was the strongest so that way Uriah could be killed. In the end, Uriah was killed alongside other Israelites. When Bathsheba found out that Uriah was killed, she mourned him. While mourning her late husband, David sent out for her and she then became one of his wives. The Lord was not pleased with the actions David took (2 Samuel 11:1-27). It was selfish of David to be with Bathsheba knowing she was married. It was also selfish of him to become friends with Uriah and then have him killed so that way he can become closer to Bathsheba. This is an example of how selfishness has been around for a long time. Avoiding selfishness is not as hard as some people make it out to be.
Selflessness is the concern more with the needs and wishes of others than with one’s own. Being selfless is a trait that everyone should have. Putting others before you should be the way to go for most cases. I say that to say you should always take care of yourself, but if someone that is close to you is in need or seeks encouragement, do not look the other way. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ showed selflessness when He died on the cross for our sins. Most of the fields we work in require us to be selfless, though many of us are not. I say us because I find myself being selfish sometimes. There are plenty of times where I would go to work and say, “I don’t want to be bothered with people and their ‘mess’ today.” Though people come to my job to fulfill their appetites and have a great dining experience. It is an everyday necessity to eat, so I shouldn’t be the one saying that I don’t want to be bothered. “See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). Another important key is to be genuine when you are being selfless. Do not just be selfless cause it is the right thing to do, do it with love and compassion. Also, do not be selfless and look to be rewarded for your selflessness, do it with a pure heart. As Christians, we are supposed to love and care for everyone, regardless of what they have been through or what they are going through.
Submitted by Sis. Michelle Mims