It's no secret that we live in an increasingly selfish world. Turn on the TV for 3 minutes and you'll be bombarded with commercials proclaiming how you can make your hair better or be skinnier or have a better phone plan or look more attractive. Honestly, it's endless. And the worst part is, we're buying it. We believe that our hair doesn't look good enough and that we've got too many extra pounds on our hips. And that's where the selfishness comes in. The self-centered, egotistical life. We're consumed with what we look like, how our hair products are working, what we want to do and where we want to go. Yes, some of this is human nature--obviously, we have to pay attention to our bodies and obviously we are in control of our lives. But to what extent? And when did it get so far that in many cases, we can't look past ourselves in order to see someone else?
So what can we do about it? We can't change years and years worth of commercialism and materialism. We can't convince people to suddenly care about each other more than themselves. But maybe, we can convince ourselves how to live selflessly in a selfish world.
It's certainly not easy. The material world is set further into us than we think. Would you rather eat the whole candy bar, or share with someone else? Are you willing to give up your free time to help others?
I'm not saying that you have to move across the world and become a missionary, or quit your job and start volunteering at a homeless shelter. Living selflessly among the selfish means giving unexpected love and support to those around you. It is making sure everyone else is fed before you are fed. It is caring less about your hair and more about if the person next to you is doing okay. It is choosing to spend less on things you don't need and more on things other people need. It is giving some of your precious free time to see an elderly neighbor or make cards for a lonely family in your neighborhood.
It is not being a martyr and forgetting about your own needs. It is not just a one time donation to a food pantry. It is not just something you think about every once in a while. It is a choice. A choice to make every morning when you wake up. Am I going to care more about myself, or others today?
I'll be the first to say that it is not easy. It's certainly not what I want to do. I would rather spend my time doing what I want to do and spend my money on what I want. But at the end of my life, will I really be happy? Knowing that I could've spent so much more energy supporting those around me, rather then constantly thinking about my own problems and needs and fears and looks?
God calls us to selflessness. Philippians 2:3-4 says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others".
Just make the choice. Do your best to live selflessly. It starts with a small sacrifice, and eventually it will become a lifestyle. Fight the materialism. Imagine what the world could be if everyone cared more about each other than themselves.
