Are you defeated by selfishness?

 

ARE YOU DEFEATED BY SELFISHNESS?

 

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death . . . (Rom 6:4 NIV).

 

When Socrates chose young men to be his students, he had them look into aclear pool of water and tell him what they saw. If they saw the beautiful fish swimming in the pool they were chosen as students. If they saw only their own image reflected in the surface of the water, they were not chosen, for they were in love with themselves.

 

William Gladstone said, "Selfishness is the great curse of the human race." Too much concern about self stifles fruitfulness and frustrates ambitions. It is when we get beyond ourselves and live for others that true greatness can be achieved.

 

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" (Matt. 16:25 KJV). Some people sit around in selfish isolation, crying about the emptiness and meaninglessness of their existence. Life is not a fragile gift that must be pampered to be preserved. It is a strong, powerful tool that must be exercised to find its total usefulness. If we lose our lives for Jesus' sake, we will find life comes flooding back in abundance. No one is truly alive until he is part of something bigger than himself.

 

Life response: Whose reflection is more important in my life, Christ’s or my own?