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Tertullian once said, “He who lives only to benefit himself confers on the world a benefit when he dies.” Henry Ward Beecher a famous 20th century orator said, “Selfishness is that detestable vice which no one will forgive in others, and no one is without in himself.” Perhaps, selfishness has done more damage and continues to do damage than any other single thing known to mankind. In fact, selfishness is at the foundation of all sin. The influence of selfishness in the lives of men prevents people from being the kind of Christian God desires us to be. If we are ever to be redeemed, if we ever expect to become useful to God, then we must be transformed from lives of selfishness to lives of selflessness.  

Our greatest example is in the person of Jesus who taught by command and by example that men must be unselfish. Paul reminds us in Rom. 15:3 of the example of Jesus when he said, “For even Christ pleased not himself…”. Jesus, for the welfare of all men, emptied himself of all personal desires and wants. It is in Him that we have the perfect example of selfless living. For the Christian, the challenge that is laid before us is to be unselfish like Christ! Paul wrote, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification” (Romans 15:2 KJV). To accomplish this goal, we should follow the teachings of Paul when he said, “Look not every man on his own things (only), but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:4). Then we learn in 1 Cor. 10:24, that we have the obligation to not only look after our own wellbeing but also the wellbeing of others. 

To help us avoid the sin of selfishness we should know that selfishness is seen as an undue regard for self, for the interests, desires, wants and affairs of ourselves and no one else. These people believe and live as if all things revolve around them. This is the attitude one has that allows them to disregard the desires, interests and even the needs and welfare of others. Selfishness is such a concern because it deposits upon the world a sinful blight that disfigures every relationship in life. Selfishness brings sorrow to homes, havoc to society and at the same time introduces special difficulties into the church. 

It is through this unwanted sinful attitude that our eyes are often blinded to truth and justice. It has the ability to close our ears to love and mercy. It can harden our hearts to the love that God and even our fellow man offers. Selfishness destroys peace, harmony, and unity in the church! Selfishness is a sin that produces a multitude of other sins. The fruits it bears are dangerous and destructive to the souls of men. Consider what it did in the life of Judas Iscariot. It brought to his name an everlasting disgrace and shame as he sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (John 12:4-6).

In the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-16, selfishness led a young man to come into great want in his life! When he left home and squandered all his living, who was he thinking of? Only himself, because his life was one of self-consideration. His selfishness separated him from his father and caused a great deal of confusion and jealousy between him and his brother. 

Selfishness was the sin that brought sudden death on two members of the church according to (Acts 5:1-10). There we learn about the lie of (Ananias and Sapphira); a lie that was rooted in covetousness. While they were Christians, we see that selfishness still controlled their lives and would bring upon them death.  

As God’s children, we are taught to put God and others first. In so doing we take ourselves out of the center and place others there. We learn from Paul in Romans 14:19-15:3 that we should do things to make peace, edify others, never offend others but rather look to their good while bearing their burdens. This type of living was exemplified in the life of Jesus. It was others that moved Jesus to act and live as He did. Jesus always sought to please His Father while on earth; this was manifested in a life that was purposed, planned, and executed to benefit others! From humiliation to agony and suffering on the cross, it was all for others.

The apostle Paul understood unselfish living. He sacrificed Honor, Power, and Prestige in order to become a Christian. (Phil. 3:7) – “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” He sought to do all things to the glory of God. But he was also concerned about people. 1 Cor. 9:19 – “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” 

Unselfish living is the only real way to live a life that is pleasing to God! Christians have a real challenge before them; it is a challenge of difficulty. However, it is a life that is attainable; we must simply have a desire to live that life, a desire to live selfless rather than selfish. 

(Tony Hoss is minister of the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)