Isn't it so beautiful when you have something in your possession and you help your neighbor to also be a beneficiary. One thing I've realised is that if I have something my friend don't have and I help him to get some, I become a free person. This is because there will be no burden on me to provide for the person anymore. If I have two pens I give one to a friend who is need, I'm not sure he will come back and ask me for a pen again. There is a saying that, "teach a person how to fish so that he don't come to you always for a fish.
What is selfishness?
Selfishness is being concerned excessively or exclusively, for oneself or one's own advantage, pleasure, or welfare, regardless of others.
Image source
JAMES 4:1-2
"1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren't they caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you? 2 You want what you don't have, so you commit murder. You're determined to have things, but you can't get what you want. You quarrel and fight. You don't have the things you want, because you don't pray for them."
Selfishness is the root of every problem we face. If selfishness were eradicated all mankind's problems would be solved.
JAMES 3:16
"Where jealousy and selfishness are, there will be confusion and every kind of evil."
We should put at the back of our head is that, so as we come into this world empty handed, the same way we will leave here empty handed. Nobody goes to the grave with cars, money, mansions etc. Many rich men have died leaving their riches for someone else to enjoy. So why are you being selfish?
The disease of selfishness cannot be cured just by a human decision to try and do better. No, it is natural for a human being to be selfish -- to look out for our self. What we need is a new nature, a real cure, not just a bandage to cover up the problem. This is why Jesus told us we need to be born again. We need to become "new creations" with a new nature -- the nature of divine love. We need to have the love of God in our hearts.
Then we will have the ability, if we so choose, to walk in divine love and put the interests of others before our own. When you have everyone doing that, you have heaven.
Government workers do not want leave their offices whiles they are supposed to for pension. Some rich people use their money to gain power over people who are poor so they they can take the little they have as well. This is selfishness.
The tree does not eat its fruit nor does the lake drink its own water, nor does the sun burn for itself. It shines to give light to others. We must learn the lessons of selflessness from nature. The earth, which is a living being, gives us everything and it falls to our lot to share it with everybody. Usually those who possess something, say a natural resource in great amount, use it as a bargaining power or as a means to exploit and dominate others. Nature is rich but humanity is poor, why? This is so because of selfish and greedy individuals.
Selfishness is the greatest of all diseases. Heal humanity of it and the world becomes a paradise. But that seems utopian. It seems we need a shock therapy as all else have failed. People are unwilling to leave what they have in their fist, only a shock can open it. However, the best medicine would be self-education, which alone can engender love.
Don't be selfish, let love lead
Thanks for reading
