What’s in it for me?
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”(Colossians 3:23-24)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
If asked, how many of us would willingly admit our tendency to be selfish? I would imagine that the hands wouldn’t fly up. I know in my own life, God is working on me in this area! I was serving my mentor in the capacity of assisting her as she birthed one of her God-dreams recently. While I love her and admire everything God is doing through her, God had to teach me a very important lesson on love. I was struggling with the concept of using my gifts, energy, and time for a project that was not my own. For my flesh, it was a foreign concept to be inconvenienced for anyone other than myself. I had to pray and ask God to purify this selfishness from my heart and replace it with a heart to serve!
Holy Spirit reminded me of Colossians 3:23-24, explaining that any work I do is not just for the individual(s) directly involved, but a reflection of my desire to serve God himself. Struggling with selfishness? I hear the cure is to change your perspective of who you’re serving. Imagine you are running errands not for your crabby boss, but for the King of Kings. Instead of feeling down and underappreciated by your husband, think about the way that your Father in heaven sees your service and He alone is responsible for your appreciation and reward.
Prayer:
Hey Dad, selfishness can be so second-nature at times. I feel justified in wanting to be recognized for my efforts, and it can be hard to toil for assignments that don’t immediately benefit me. I thank You that you never ask me for perfection, but instead that I would acknowledge You in all my ways and You would make my ways straight. I ask that you continue to do a new thing in me as I continue on this journey to loving You more than what comes naturally to me. Today, I love You more than my desire to always be benefitted directly. Make me more like Jesus, amen.
