Selflessness...

Selflessness...by definition most people would probably say "its's simple..it's the opposite of selfishness". However, I would have to say not necessarily. Selfishness is having great concern for only ones self. However, selflessness is not all about having no concern for yourself, but having great concern for others over yourself. Philippians 2:4 says "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others." So Paul is clearly telling us "yeah its not all about you...BUT also think about others". It's easy to say "I'm not self centered", and you may not be....but do you think about others? Do you intentionally think about what is good for others and do those things for others? Yes, we can walk through life not being self centered, but also being blind to other's needs. And we can feel good about ourselves and content in that, but I don't believe it is how Jesus called us to be. I believe He is saying take it a step further....think about, and do, what is best for others....FIRST.
Now as if that idea wasn't enough, look at Luke 6:35. Luke states "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil". So just as you grasp this idea of needing to see other's needs and put them first, along comes this verse saying "oh yeah, and those who you would consider an enemy...put them first too". And most of us would say back to that "Really God? You want me to be good, kind and lending to those who are against me?" Yes, He does? Because His goal....God's main concern, is not how justified or rewarded you feel here on the earth, but that you help pave a way for as many people as possible to meet Jesus. And if you have to humble yourself beyond words to help make that happen, He expects it! And it states that your reward for that will be that you are considered a son(or daughter) of the Most High and in that moment you will be more Christlike than you probably have ever been. Jesus was kind to the ungrateful and evil ones. I am sure we can all think of some people in our lives that are going to be ungrateful if we are kind to them. And I believe those are the ones that God would have us put at the top of our lists to do nice things for. He knows it will do something for them, and it will help you grow too. When we can learn to lovingly put the needs of those people above our own, how easy will it be to drop what your doing and just help a stranger in need.
I do believe we do things in life that cause God to smile down on us...and when we live out this example that Christ gave us I think it is one of those times. Make Him smile today by watching you make a choice to be consciously selfless.