Just a Thought: The best way to get over being selfish is to become a giver. Our truest expression of love is not in what we say, but rather, in what we do. Selfish people have no problem saying they love others. But they do have a problem showing their love for others because they are generally too focused upon themselves. The apostle John is instructing the church in this matter. He has already told them to love one another like Christ has loved them by laying their lives down for one another. Putting our lives on the line for another isn’t always dying. However, unless we die to selfishness, we won’t do anything for others that expresses true love and concern. So, John uses the example of giving as a way to display this lack of selfishness that ought to be the way every believer lives and acts. “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1 Jn 3:17) John is not promoting socialism here. He is however, showing what it looks like to think of others more than we just think of ourselves. John is saying true followers of Christ are compassionate like He is toward others. They are loving like Christ. And they are giving like Christ. Love only expressed from the tongue is not real love. Love is displayed in and through how we give ourselves to others. How we care about others. And how we are willing to help others. If you have struggled with selfishness and desire to conquer this troublesome character trait, here is how you do it. The best way to get over being selfish is to become a giver. Not just of your money, but mostly of your life. Give of your time and talent to others. Don’t just attend your church, serve the church with your gifts. Don’t just meet people, be genuinely interested in people. Don’t just say “I’ll pray for you.” When you hear of a need. Ask, “what can I do to help?” Sometimes it may just be to listen. Other times it may require you to step up and do more. And, if you can, you should. Being a Christian doesn’t happen just because we say we are. This happens when we give our hearts and lives to the Lord in complete surrender to His Lordship over us. How can we say we are true followers of Christ, if there is no evidence Christ lives in and through us? This is John’s point. Don’t just go around telling people you are a Christian. Act like it by letting the loving, caring, giving spirit of Christ be seen in you. One more time. The best way to get over being selfish is to become a giver. Let’s give of ourselves to others today the best way we can and like Christ gave Himself for us.
