“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)
Unselfishness does three things for you:
- It improves the quality of your life. It gives you an appreciation for life and a comprehension of its higher values. Seeing people in need and giving to meet those needs sets a lot of things into perspective. One leader writes: “There is no life as empty as the self-centered life. There is no life as centered as the self-empty life.” If you want to enhance your world, focus your attention on assisting others.
- It makes you part of something greater than yourself. In the mid-1980s, Merck & Company, the global pharmaceutical corporation, developed a medication to cure river blindness, a disease that infects and causes blindness in millions of people, mainly in developing countries. While it was a good product, potential customers couldn’t afford it. So, what did Merck do? It produced the drug anyway and announced that it would give it free to anyone who needed it. As a result, they gave away more than 250 million tablets. George W. Merck says, “We try never to forget that medicine is for the people. It’s not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear.” The lesson to learn? Simple. Instead of attempting to be great, be part of something greater than yourself.
- It creates a legacy. Jack Balousek, former president of True North Communications, said, “Learn, earn, return — these are the three phases of life.” When you think unselfishly and invest in others, you gain the opportunity to create a legacy that will outlive you. And that should be your goal.
The Church looks for opportunity everywhere to share the Word of Jesus and make disciples without prejudice; we too are in the people business. (Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”)
Prayer
Lord, show me the way to be greater than myself. Let my life and work reflect glory on Your name and show Your love to those around me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
