Let’s Be Like Jesus; A Life of Selflessness

 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4

You don’t have to look very far to see that our society is very self-centered, very “me-centered”. You also don’t have to look very far to see that we as believers struggle with being selfless. But one has to wonder, what does it mean to be selfless anyway? Does it mean to think of yourself less or does it mean something completely different? Well according to Webster’s dictionary to be selfless means having no concern for self: unselfish. So it is not thinking about yourself less but completely removing yourself from the equation to care for others. In Philippians 2 we see Paul give us the charge to not only look out for ourselves but to look out for others also. When we serve, what should our posture be? Do we serve with the intention that we’re doing good works for all the world to see? I would dare say that if this is the posture when we go out into the world to serve then we should really re-examine our motives behind our service to others. We’re given a charge by Jesus to not do our works to be seen, but to serve in secret so that our Father in heaven will see and by that reward us.  Our giving and our service is something that God the Father rewards when we do this with a posture that honors and glorifies Him and not ourselves. Being selfless is not an easy task for anyone, much less for the believer that Jesus has charged to die to himself for the Kingdom of God. When we look out for the interest of others, it is not to make us look better but to show that we love them. We are living in a time when now more than ever people need to see and experience the love of Jesus through our words and our actions. Jesus said in John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” As we continue to go out into the world, may our focus not be inward to our efforts, but outward to how we are going to share the love of Christ with others. Jesus demonstrated for us how we are to care for each other as he washed the feet of his disciples and in that same spirit of service, we should care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Does it mean to think of yourself less or does it mean something completely different?

At Caring For Miami we desire to meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of those we come in contact with through service. Through the resources we provide for unsecured families we provide for these needs through things such as backpacks for students and dental care for those without dental insurance and we know that without God’s grace moving in our organization none of this would be possible. We are grateful for the opportunities given to us to serve those in need in whatever capacity and know that God is at work in Caring For Miami. Nothing would be possible without His grace and mercy in our lives and in the same way that Jesus was selfless in laying down his life for his friends, we are called to do the same as he says in John 15:13 “greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Being selfless is not about what we’re able to get out of our actions but about showing the love of Christ through our selfless acts because  just as Martin Luther once said, “God doesn’t need your good works, but your neighbor does.” Jesus tells us to love one another selflessly.