Good morning. The word in the Greek language which we translate as “selfish” is a heavy hitting word. It shares a root form with words like contentious and strife. It suggests that a preoccupation with self comes at the expense of others. In the Greek language selfishness is an obsession with self that not only often excludes others but is also willing to allow or to bring about harm to other people.
Looking after your own needs and interests is reasonable life management. But to do so at the expense of others is selfishness, and that is not in keeping with God’s will for His people. Please consider the teaching from Philippians 2:1-4.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
These verses are followed by the apostle Paul relating the perfect example of humility which is provided in the person of Jesus Christ.
For a moment, please join me in imagining what a world we would live in if everyone followed the command of Philippians 2:1-4. What would it be like to live in a world where everyone was of one mind, of one love, of one goal and ambition. And that singular mindset is the mind of Christ Jesus whose humble nature leads Him to pure obedience to the will of the Father. Imagine such a world. Why, it would be like…heaven, wouldn’t it?
Perhaps we might consider how we can spread a bit of the joy of heaven into the world around us today by living more in selflessness rather than in selfishness.
Vern