This is kind of along the veins of what I think I have been rolling with most of this week, and I think this sums most of it up in one idea: we need to get rid of selfishness. We are selfish people by nature- we're born being selfish. A new baby wants Mommy all the time- regardless what Mommy is doing. As the child grows, they need to learn to share their toys- there is seldom a child who is willing to share right off the bat. They need to learn to share. In the same way, we as adults need to learn to share. Sometimes this can be so hard!
A great example for us right now is our time. :-) With Andy working out of town, he is gone Monday through Friday, and he doesn't get home until late on Fridays. So that gives him just two days to spend with the family, and we have gotten a bit selfish and possessive of that time. Understandably, we have had to cut back on our weekend activities, it's just not possible to give everyone the time that they want. But we've had to choose to make the conscious effort to share our time together. It could have been real easy to cancel our small group for the summer and tell everyone that we really needed our Sunday to spend as a family. It would have been so easy. Instead, we decided to follow what God wanted and not be selfish. We've kept our house open on most Sundays for anyone who wants to come. I'll admit, come late Saturday, or sometimes Sunday afternoon when I'm cleaning yet again, I'll think to myself how much easier it would be to cancel. But I set aside those selfish thoughts, and each and every week we're rewarded with some fantastic time with the people God has put in our lives.
In today's time, it's easy to be selfish. Society makes it easy by telling us that we deserve this and we deserve that. We deserve to be pampered, we deserve time off, we deserve to get everything we want in life, and when we don't get what we want, it's okay to have a pity party.
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:1-5
It's important for us to stop focusing on ourselves and our selfish desires. By turning our minds and our hearts towards heaven, we're taking that first step to be rid of selfishness. Instead of thinking about what I can do to be recognized, I need to think about what I can do to recognize God. What can I do for Him? And we need to think about other people, and how we can help them. Can we afford to sacrifice a few hours next weekend to help someone move? Or help someone with a home improvement project? I know people who are very selfless. They are the first ones to volunteer when someone needs help. I love that, and it's an example to follow- and follow willingly. Because God will bless that. God will bless you for your willingness to let go of your selfish nature. He will replace that selfishness with compassion and love and a caring heart, and I know I can always use more of that.
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