WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD ... Self Service

We pull up to the gas pump.

We make our choice at the soda machine.

Its all self service.

We make our choice.

We pay for our choice.

and then we serve ourselves.

We live in a world that is simply enamored with "self". Our culture teaches us to focus on our appearance, on our feelings and to make our personal desires as top priority over anything else. Seems like the goal many make in their life is to chase after the highest level of happiness possible, no matter what it takes. We put "self" first, and others second.

Selfishness is not a good thing to have in a relationship, especially in a marriage. Unfortunetly, the act of selfishness is ingrained in us from as early as birth. The habit of not wanting to share or mistreating others is a habit that can carry into adulthood. Almost every sinful act can be traced back to a selfish motive.

We easily recognize selfishness in other people, but when it comes to ourselves, we justify our actions and selfish motives. In last weeks YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers the following question, "What area do you tend to be selfish?" The top 3 answers were:

1. 53% of those voting said that they tend to be selfish with their time.
2. 15% voted and said that they are selfish in their friendships.
3. Another 15% said that they are not selfish.

Loving someone completely is putting that person and their needs above yours. The two words "Love" and "Selfish" really cannot go together. Loving someone, such as a spouse or a dear friend means putting their needs and their happiness above yours. At all times.

We are called to be Christ-like and to be like Christ, we must put others first. Instead of having the "self service" mentality, I wonder what impact we could have on others if we lived in the "full service" mode...full of the Spirit and full of His love!

PHILIPPIANS 2:3 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves."