Self. It is who we are individually as described with such words as “my self, himself, herself.” It points to the individuality of each person as distinct and unique. Each individual is outwardly recognized by their features, sex, color, height, weight, fingerprints, distinctive marks etc. Though each is unique in appearance so to distinguish them yet there is something that speaks louder that appearance, and it is, character. How we behave and express self can be known by what we tag on to the end of self such as “ish” or “less.”
So if you look at your life, unique, distinct and wonderful as God’s creation is in forming you… how would your life describe you with “ish,” or “less” behind the self? What does that look like when we put one or the other behind “self” when it comes to describing your life?
It is Either
SELF- ISH
OR
SELF- LESS!
One is occupied with self and is selfish. All that is done is done with the motive for self and is manifested in a selfish, self centered, “me- first” life.
The other?
Is characterized by a selfless life. A Life that is given for the benefit of others.
This is seen in these verses…
1.SELFLESS- Lovingly Spends oneself on others!
1.” I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me. “-{ 2 Cor 12;15 NLT }
2. SELFLESS DEMONSTRATED BY THE CROSS
“… The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. “- {Gal 2:20}
3. SELFLESS CONCERNED WITH AND MEETS THE NEEDS OF OTHERS
“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. “- {1 John 3;16-18}
4. SELFLESS MAKES CHOICES TO BENEFIT OTHERS. NOT AN ISSUE OF CONVENIENCE BUT COMMITMENT TO COMPASSIONATELY, CONTINUOUSLY LOVE THE NEEDY
The context is LOVE. Loving God and LOVING Your neighbor. And the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus gives the answer. Remember two other religious men came across the man who was beaten and laying on the side of the road. They manifested they were self- “ish.”They would rather leave a man beaten and down by the side of the road than stop and seek his welfare! The story Jesus shares about the good Samaritan shows that it is not about convenience, but compassion and models love and selflessness!
” On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” -{ Luke 10:25-37}.
5. IT BEGINS IN YOUR MIND BASED ON THE MIND OF CHRIST!
“Do nothing ]from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,” -{Phil 2:3-5}.
People may talk about needing “the Lord’s mind,” when He has given it in the above verse. Humble people think about the welfare and good of others in order to…serve them. What will this mean for the other person, rather than the self-“ish” person who thinks,”what will this mean for ME?”
The Descriptive at the end of self when describing you and me is either “ish” or “less”
“In Christ,” we are to be a people who are distinctive and obvious in the way we live. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”-{John 13:34-35}.
Are we always this way? No! But we should more and more be increasing in our growth of loving, sacrificially, preferring others, one thought, one choice, act at a time. Consistently, habitually, this is the self you are living and expressing… self-less.
“and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; “-{1 Thess 3:12}
” And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, “-{Phil 1:9}
” We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; “-{2 Thess 2:13}
“Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,– {1 Thess 4:9-10}
We are to Pray for love to abound
We are to Practice Love
We are to Purposely choose to love OTHER people
We Persist in preferring others, this is how love behaves-{Read 1 Cor 13:4-7, Place your name in place of where Love is mentioned}
We manifest this mind when we choose to PREFER one another!
These are the people who have “less” at the end of self when describing them, “Less” of self in order to make room for others!
“Ish” has more of self seeking and “less” room to love others sacrificially.
The SELF- LESS have a Superior, Single Minded Motivation.
“…ourselves YOUR servants
FOR Jesus sake!” -{Read 2 Cor 4:5}
Which describes you “ish” or “less?”
The answer is whom you are habitually thinking and choosing to live for. Self or the Savior!
Selfish people are consumed with SELF-ISH-NESS. What does this mean to ME? what will I get out of this?
Self less people are looking outward towards others and are growing in their self-lessness as manifested in their concern to love and help others practically pursuing the other person’s highest good and their motivation is “FOR Jesus sake!”-{2 Cor 4:5}
You can change. The Holy Spirit is within you to strengthen you and God has given you EVERYTHING pertaining to live and Godliness -{Read Phil 2:13; 2 Peter 1:3-4}. God is for you. His cross shows not selfish but selflessness!
The Life of Jesus can be summed up in one word,”OTHERS”
Every decision, choice you are about to make, ask yourself will this model Christ and reflect His view for the other person?
With each decision you are about to make, ask yourself “at the end of the choice I make which tag can I add to self? “Ish” or “Ness”
Think about it!
It is not perfection, for we do battle with self but we have the Holy Spirit, the Word of God to enlighten, empower us and as we yield and choose to obey His Word we have “everything pertaining to life and godliness,” to live on a higher plane. It is a new direction of a life of love, seeking the highest good of others through preferring them from the simplest thing in a home such as opening a door for them, helping them bring in the groceries, folding clothes after they have been ironed, cleaning your room, helping wash the dishes. Simple, practical daily things where we all live. Keeping it real at the place we live! Doing all your work whether around the house, school, work doing it whole-heatedly as on to the LORD. -{Read Col 3:23} Doing whatever you do for the Glory of God. -{ Read 1 Cor 10:31}. Doing it all “… FOR JESUS sake.” {Read 2 Cor 4:5}. How? By making a shift in your and my thinking when around other people summed up with “…ourselves your servants.” I am here to serve YOU! Jesus did not come to be served but to serve…and give His life…” He said “the GREATEST among you is the servant!”-{Read Matt 23:11}. When the disciples got to the home and there was no one there to wash the dust off their feet. Jesus stooped and made the choice to wash their feet and left us this as an example.
Our degree of love for Him is revealed in what we will not do for Him in serving others!
None of the disciples would stoop to wash the others feet! But Jesus did! Self “ish,” and self-“less” on display!
It’s making the choices where you live. Being faithful where you are. Faithfulness begins in the home.
Adopt this attitude when in the presence of others “…ourselves YOUR Servants.”
Honor Him and love others, motivated with…” FOR Jesus sake!” -{2 Cor 4:5}
Memorize
Philippians 2;3-5; 2 Cor 4:5
Apply
Philippians 2;3-5; 2 Cor 4:5