Living Unselfishly

If you’re serious about becoming like Jesus, pay careful attention to His words: ‘...just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise… love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great…’ (Luke 6:31–35 NKJV) Love, expecting nothing in return. Give, though they’ll never say thanks. Forgive, even though they won’t forgive you. Come early, stay late, invest everything you’ve got even though nobody notices. Paul calls this ‘...the high calling...’ (Philippians 3:14 KJV) And there’s a reason: none of us would set such a standard for ourselves!

If you think some people are just naturally more loving than others, think again. Love is a choice: one that costs! You can’t love others while you’re staring into a mirror or give to others while you’re clinging to what you’ve got. Love will cost you your time, your money and you’ll need to start thinking about others. Just going to church some Sunday morning, reading a book or attending a 7-step seminar won’t turn into the kind of person we’re talking about! There are no pre-packaged saints; no ‘add-and-stir’ formula that makes God’s love gush forth. To be loving you’ve got to take up your cross, deny yourself and make others your priority. Remember the woman caught in adultery? Jesus stooped down to reach her, stood by her under attack, then sent her home redeemed and refocused. Do you want to be like Him? Go and find people who are hurting, hopeless, and even wrong. When you do, minister to them until they’re redeemed, restored and right. That’s living unselfishly!