Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for others.
Our world travels around talking all about self, right? We have the selfie, selfcare, self help, self esteem, self like, self made, self name, self will, and on and on it goes. Our worldview today is that we have to live for self in order to survive or prosper. The new coin phrase that my family knows I detest is: you be you. What does that even mean if you really think about it.
To the toddler in the store having a royal tantrum – you be you. And to the elementary school kid who refuses to do their math – you be you. To the teen who knows it all and wants to stay out past midnight – you be you. And to the college student who is going to that all night bender – you be you. How about the adult who wants to be unfaithful and step out on their spouse – you be you. Do you see how living for self and being you makes for a very sorrowful life? So how do we get away from self?
First we need to make sure we are living for the Lord and are truly a child of His. If we live and walk in the Spirit then those words about self become words about the Spirit: Spirit help, Spirit like, Spirit will, etc. I think you get the picture. Once you are living and walking in the Spirit then you will have the joy of living for and loving others.
The Bible has story after story filled with people living for others. Remember Moses? He grew up in a palace but decided he’d rather live for the people of Israel (his people) and help them leave Egypt. Hebrews 11:24,25 says, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” He denied his rich lifestyle in order to lead the Israelites out of slavery.
How about Esther? Her cousin reminded her that maybe she was brought to the king’s palace…”who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 She was in! She was the queen. Esther could have thought only of herself but she didn’t. She left self behind.
I have to mention Mary, sister to Lazarus, who didn’t think about her self image when she anointed Jesus for His upcoming burial. “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.” John 12:3
Story after story can be found of selfless people not only in the Scriptures but missionaries and people through the ages. People who thought not of themselves but of others. That is love.
When we live for others, we will be living in the Spirit (as Christians) and not for self. I can’t think of a more contented life than a Christian who loves others.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8)
