It’s all around us, isn’t it? This blaring message everywhere we turn that it’s all about us; it’s all about what we want, what we need and where we are going in life. The problem is that all these self-affirming messages are making us selfish.

Now don’t get me wrong, of course there is a time and place to focus on your goals and dreams and I am all for a positive self-image, but I think we may have gone too far. Let me ask you some questions to see where you are at:

  • When last did you do something for someone else without any strings attached? It’s easy to bring your boss a cup of coffee or offer to help someone who is in a position of influence because we hope that it will help us in the future. It’s easy to help those who can help you, but when last did you help someone who could do nothing for you?
  • When last did you put your needs or wants on hold for the sake of someone else? It’s so easy for us to think about ourselves first and make sure we are okay; that we are getting ahead and getting what need. When last did you put yourself second and put the needs of someone else first?
  • When last did you do something to help someone that inconvenienced you or cost you something? The two things we can most easily be selfish with is our time and our money. When last did you sacrifice your time or your money to help someone else?

If you cannot answer these questions above, welcome to the selfish club, my friend! Don’t worry, you’re certainly not the only one. None of us are naturally unselfish. Being selfish comes easily, almost naturally you might say. So what can we do about it?

If you, like me, want to be less selfish, we have to be intentional about it. It will not just happen automatically. We have to go against what is our natural, selfish instinct and intentionally look for ways to be less selfish.

Check back next week for Part Two of this blog where we will look at practical things we can do to help us be less selfish.

The most unselfish person who ever lived was Jesus Christ. He gave up His very life for a world that could give Him nothing in return. Want to know more about Him and His love for you? Click on the pop up or banner below.