Life’s Greatest Lesson Takes Time

In Philippians 2:4 it says, “Look out for one another's interests, not just for your own.” (GNT)

Selflessness brings out the best in others. It builds relationships. What does it mean to be selfless? It means you think a little less of yourself and a little more of others. 

The opposite of selflessness is selfishness—and it’s the number one cause of conflict and arguments. The Bible says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have” (James 4:1-2 NIV).

Self-centeredness destroys relationships.

The problem is, being selfish is human nature. We naturally think about our own interests, our hurts, how we look, and how we feel. Even culture tells us, “Do what you think is best for you.” But God’s Word says, “Look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own” (Philippians 2:4 GNT).

What happens when I look out for others’ interests and not just my own? Not only will it transform relationships, but it will also transform other people. It causes the other person to change, because I’m not the same person anymore, allowing them to relate to me in a different way. 

When I can treat cranky, unlikable people with kindness, instead of treating them the way they deserve, they often transform into nice people.

The greatest lesson in life is learning to be unselfish—but it won’t happen overnight. It’s going to take the rest of my life. 

The good news is, God doesn’t leave me all alone to learn how to be selfless. Romans 8:26 says, “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness” (NLT).

I should never stop making the effort to be more selfless. God’s Spirit is within me to help me break the cycle of selfishness! When I do, I will see transformation in all my relationships.

Paul encourages me to guard against any selfishness, prejudice, or jealousy that might lead to dissension. Showing genuine interest in others is a positive step forward in maintaining unity. Jesus was humble, willing to give up his rights in order to obey God and serve people. Like Christ, I too should have a servant's attitude, serving out of love for God and for others, and not out of guilt or fear. I can choose my attitude. I can approach life expecting to be served or I can look for opportunities to serve others.

When I’m Selfless, It Brings Out the Best In Others

In review of Galatians 6:7-8 it says, “The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others — ignoring God! — harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life”

Bottom Line:

If you ignore others and only sow to fulfill your own desires you’ll only reap weeds. If you plant in response to God goals and desires you’ll reap everlasting life.

What this means to me:

If I only plant my own selfishness, ignore the needs of others, ignore God, I’ll only end up harvesting weeds. A man reaps what he sows. If I plant in response to Go, letting his Spirit do the growth work will harvest a crop of real and eternal life.

Today's passage comes from the first part of Galatians chapter 6 in which Paul speaks of harvesting what we plant. Paul starts this section off by telling me to gently and humbly help other believers that may have been overcome by sin, back onto the right path. Also I am to share other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If I think myself too important to help someone, I'm only fooling myself.

I am to pay careful attention to my own work, then I can obtain the satisfaction of a job well done and won't need to compare myself with others. For I am responsible for my own conduct.

And lastly to not be misled. I cannot mock the justice of God. I will always harvest what I plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. Those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.  Therefor, whenever I have the opportunity, I should do good to everyone, especially to others in the family of the faith.

In general, selfishness destroys relationships. It is the number one cause of conflict, arguments, divorce, and even war.

James 4:1 said, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (NIV) Every trouble starts because of our self-centeredness.

It’s very easy for selfishness to creep into relationships. When you start a relationship, you work really hard at being unselfish. But as time goes on, selfishness begins to creep in. We tend to put more energy into starting and building relationships than we do in maintaining them.

If selfishness destroys relationships, then it is selflessness that makes them grow. What does selflessness mean? It means less of “me” and more of “them.” It means thinking of others before I think of myself and putting the other person’s needs before my own (Philippians 2:4).

Selflessness brings out the best in others. It builds trust in relationships. If I was to start acting selfless in a relationship, it forces the other person to change, because you’re not the same person any more, and they have to relate to you in different way.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:7-8, “The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others — ignoring God! — harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life” (MSG).

This is the biblical principle of sowing and reaping. What I sow, I’m going to reap. God rewards selflessness with eternal life. He has wired the universe so that the more unselfish i am, the more he blesses me. Why? Because he wants me to become like him, and God is unselfish. Everything I have in life is a gift from God, because he was unselfish with me.

I am most fulfilled in this life when I give yourself away. Jesus said, “Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (Mark 8:35b TLB).