Selflessness is one of the greatest qualities that any Christian can have and that every Christian needs. Am I selfless?
A selfless Christian is more concerned with the needs of others than with their own, and God commands this attitude in His word. In Philippians 2, Paul writes, “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” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Selflessness is beneficial to the unity of the church. What divisions could there be if every Christian was truly selfless? Pride would never rule a men’s meeting or eldership, and harmful gossip would never be spoken.
Selflessness is helpful to the spiritual strength of the members. If every Christian was more concerned with others than themselves, how encouraged and uplifted would all of us be? If we prayed for each other with the same regularity, fervor, and sincerity as we might pray for our own needs, members of the Lord’s church would be spiritually stronger than ever.
Selflessness is also perfectly demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus. The Lord told His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Not only did Jesus then command that of His disciples, He perfectly and selflessly demonstrated it on the cross.
Matt Langfield