How many times are we selfish in a day? Once, twice, or three times? Probably a lot more. I realized today, that I am more selfish than I am selfless. Now of course I have my good days, but lately I have notice my selfish attitude. I think one of the hardest things is to recognize and admit to ourselves the sins we commit. For me it’s my sinning has been my selfish attitude.
A couple of days ago I was working at Parchments and their some ladies helping out with the High School group. They were cleaning the kitchen and preparing the meal for the students’ big Thanksgiving party (which looked amazing). Anyways I needed to clean some dish so we could close Parchments. I ended waiting probably an extra 5 to 10 minutes to start cleaning but during that time I decided to be a tool and whine about how this lady was taking up the kitchen cleaning her stuff. Here is the twist after I started to wash dishes the same lady decided to help clean the rest of the dishes for me.
Now yesterday, I redeemed myself a little bit. So my grandfather had thyroid cancer and he had his surgery. Yesterday a bunch of us were going to play basketball. Well I realize that I needed to visit my grandfather before I started work later that day. So at first I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to play basketball. In the car I had this inner battle, knowing the right thing to do is visit my grandfather while at the same time I really want to play basketball. Finally I reach my destination by the time I got there I realized that my heart had been wrong place the last couple of days. I went up to see my grandfather lying their resting. My grandma told me everything we fine and he perfect well he just needs to rest. I couldn’t be that I even contemplated basketball and seeing my grandfather on the same page. Even having the thought of contemplating between basketball and seeing my grandfather was one stupid thing I could think of. When I saw him I was grateful that I did, and my grandfather is doing well and just recovering. He is doing well and resting.
The truth of the matter is that a sign of true growth is when our reaction time to difficult situation or when we have a choice to be selfish or selfless is change immediately rather than have a difficult inner battle. I do believe that the more mature we get the better we are able to control and make change. However it only happens if our relationship with Christ grows. When that grows I believe each area of life will change. Christ was the ultimate selfless character; we see a beautiful hymn written by Paul in Philippians 2:5-11.
“5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. “
Christ left perfection to live on earth for 33 years, and then died for something that he didn’t do. He didn’t for all for us and brought glory to God the Father.
I got a long way to got but I am learning and I encourage you to learn and grow. Take each situation you face and see through the eyes of Christ. Also if you fail, don’t beat yourself up, make the change, and look to Spirit for power and help.
This is Evan Reedall. He is a selfless man of God. This photo was taken in Tacoma, WA during a friend Wedding.
