Discussion - What about ME?

Selfish: Adjective -  (of a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure. 

When Jesus was asked "What's the greatest commandment of the law?" his response was "Love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38) He then followed that with "and the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39) What's amazing about this particular situation is how Jesus put both of these commandments so close together. He answered the original question, but he also felt it was important to mention the second greatest commandment as well. That just goes to show the importance of loving God and loving others and how they tie together. 

In today's society, it seems like the love for others has died down drastically. People seem to be more concerned with what's going on in their world as opposed to what's going on in others. It also seems like when people do care for others, it's in some form or fashion used to benefit themselves. I don't believe that there is anything wrong with loving yourself in particular -- you should love the life you have -- but that's not where the love should stop. In fact, Jesus says love your neighbor as you love yourself, so how can you even love others if you don't love yourself? This isn't to be used as an excuse though, because sometimes loving others brings forth love for oneself. Sometimes when you're down, helping others offers a chance to lift you up. 

When thinking about Jesus and his life on earth, HIS ENTIRE MISSION was (and still is) to help others. "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom to many." - Matthew 20:28 ...As Christians, (which literally means followers of Christ) we should follow the example that he left on earth. Of course we cannot be exactly like Jesus, but by using his life as an example and following The Word of God, we can at least strive to live a somewhat similar lifestyle. 

2 Timothy 3 1-5 says, "But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." 

Upon reading this, you can see that we are clearly in the last days now...but how many of those traits do you see in YOURSELF? All of these terrible traits that are listed in the verses above all seem to be forms of selfishness. When we only care about ourselves, we are actually causing more damage than we we think that we are helping ourselves. In fact, it was these similar traits in people that caused God to destroy the earth the first time in the days of Noah. 

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented The Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart." - Genesis 6:5-6 

Can you imagine? It actually grieved God to know that the very thing that He created behaved this way. He was actually upset that he had created men on the earth. Do you think that God has changed? God is probably still sad when he sees his creation acting the way that we do. 

It's really only by the grace of God that we are all still here. 

I'll use "hero movies" for an example of how the world views "selflessness"... 

Typically, the entire world or town will be in danger by a major threat of evil caused by an evil villain or mastermind. Then, steps up a hero that wishes to save the town 

... Or do they? Or do they really just want to save a particular person? Doesn't it seem like it's not until a loved one or friend is kidnapped that the hero decides to step up and take action? What about all of the others that are in danger that the "hero" doesn't know? Would this "hero" still step up? It's like the villain knows this too, and that's why he always goes for the "hero"s loved one. 

One can go on to say that this is also how the enemy works in real life as well. It seems like when we as Christians are complacent in our lives the enemy will attack either us or our loved ones while giving us an ultimatum -- give up or step up. It seems like it is then that we become the real Christian that God calls us to be. God definitely does have a way of using what the devil intended for evil, and using it for good. In fact, the devil thought killing Jesus would end him saving lives...but if he would've known that Jesus's dying the way that he did would give everyone a chance to be saved... My guess is he would've thought twice about it. 

...but back to the movie "hero" 

Most movie heroes don't step up unless they or someone they love is in danger. Yes, in turn the entire city is saved, but what if they loved everyone the same? What if the "hero" saw that everyone was in danger and decided to step up for the safety of everyone? Better yet, what if everyone did that? Imagine a world where everyone cared for everyone and everyone wanted to help everyone. What a great world that would be. 

The point I'm making in this example is when we care for others, we shouldn't just care for those that we know. There are plenty of people in the earth that need help -- just like the people that we do know. Jesus, a true hero without quotation marks, came to the earth to save EVERYONE. Not just you, not just me, EVERYONE. There's a story in the bible that comes to mind when thinking about his care for others that were considered "outsiders"...

"A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-posessed and suffering terribly." Jesus did not answer her a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." "Yes it is, Lord," she said. "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table." Then Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment." - Matthew 15:21-28

Ok, so here's a list of things to take from that:

1. When things go bad, the FIRST place we should go to is to the feet of JESUS.

2. When things go bad with OTHERS, the first place we should go is the feet of JESUS. This woman wasn't praying for herself, she was praying for her daughter. 

3. Don't give up. Don't always listen to others. Listen to God. Keep praying until something happens. 

4. Jesus cares about all of us.

5. Your faith in God can help others.

I could literally go on and on about the importance of not being selfish, and caring for others, but the last chapter in Galatians pretty much sums up this entire post. 

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they decide themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." - Galatians 6:1-10

All people. Not just ourselves. 

(All scripture came from the NIV)

Share with us how your prayers helped save SOMEONE ELSE. Comment below!