Who/What would you be willing to die for? .... Christ suggests Selfishness!

Hey all, it's me rambling again =)... and as usual trying to stir the pot up a little bit... and as usual I would like to point out that what I'm writing here is merely what I've learned, it's far from infallible, and hence I would encourage you to rebuke me if you think I'm wrong, even in the slightest, or (heavens forbid =P) to agree with me and add something which you think my argument is missing.


But to be totally honest with you I don't really think the above title is really at all untrue...

Before you start pulling out your pitchforks and torches to flame me, allow me to demonstrate how what I'm saying is true.

But first some preamble...

These days, "selfishness" has become a crime against humanity, its evils are declaimed by countless philosophers, politicians, social activists, religious leaders and the rest of the "ethical" world. They define this "selfishness" as acting in a way solely for your own benefit. An example of this is someone who, not considering the needs of others in a company, embezzles money from his boss. People will say that this person is focussing on themselves, rather than others, like his co-employees and boss, and because of this he causes them harm (in this case loss of money). You could think of a million and one examples of this happening, they would say. But let us examine what comes of this philosophy. People go as far as to say that you shouldn't do any action for your own benefit, but only for the benefit of others...

In response to this vilification of "selfishness", people have become too afraid to do anything for their own benefit, or that they enjoy, because it might "negatively impact on other people", and then feel self-righteous in their self-deprecation... Don't believe me? Well take for example a married couple (let's call them Anne and Bob, just because it means I can abbreviate them to A and B) on a sunny Saturday off. A knows that B likes to go bush-walking on his days off, and suggest to him that they do so, seeing as it is such a beautiful day outside... B however notices that she is sacrificing what she wants to do for him, as she prefers to go swimming. Not wanting to be selfish, he suggests that instead they go swimming... there then ensues a battle of self-righteousness, with neither wanting to give into the other, and therefore prove that they are of lesser moral calibre than the other. They eventually decide to stay home, as it's to late to do anything by the time that they've finished, and both leaves the discussion having been disappointed, but satisfied in their own self-righteousness.

Do you see what I mean here now? These two were so concentrated on what was better for the other, that they didn't realise that they were actually hurting each other. Or for a simpler example, take for instance the man who refuses to eat anything, as by doing so he's being "selfish", as in eating something he's profiting only himself, or the one who refuses to take a pay rise, and therefore isn't able to pay for car repairs, which means he has to walk to work each day, costing hours with clients to the company.

But I don't want just to show that "Selflessness" is wrong, as I said above, I want to show that "Selfishness" isn't just good sense, it is actually good full stop.

Selfishness, or looking out for yourself is in itself not a bad thing. Because I cannot think of a simpler example, take for instance the example of salvation. Who out of you (if you are saved that is) can honestly say that they gave their life to Christ for the sake of someone else? No, your first thought was for the only way you could possibly ever be eternally saved, and this can hardly be attributed as being a bad thing.

No I want to put forward that the problem is not that people are too selfish in the world as it is, but that people aren't nearly selfish enough. We are too easily satisfied. The man who cheats on his wife might be described as "selfish", but in reality, his problem isn't that he's being selfish as really he's being selfless, as he's harming himself in the long run by harming the edifying relationship he has with his wife... what his problem is is that he's failing to see things in the long run. The manager who embezzles funds not only risks being caught, but also harms the company, which ultimately, he is a part of. The list goes on... and I haven't even touched on eternal consequences! One could go as far as to describe just about any sin as actually being selfless on an eternal scale, as what is more self-sacrificing than condemning oneself to eternal torment? The problem is Satan blinds our eyes, telling us to focus on the present, on the instant gratification which brings downfall.

The Bible supports this, selfish language is used all throughout The Bible, for example, storing up riches in heaven is hardly selfless, is it? I mean even the 2 commandments which sum up the law support it. The second commandment is; "love your neighbour AS you love YOURSELF". The obvious corollary of this being that we are supposed to love ourselves (unless you think Jesus is saying that we aren't supposed to love our neighbours?). Also the first commandment (not as in 10 commandments again, I mean the 2 that Jesus gave), doesn't speak against selfishness? For what truly is more selfish than loving and serving a God (with all your heart and soul and mind) who promises you eternal riches and rewards to which this all world cannot compare?

So what can we take from this? Well for one, you don't have to feel guilty about taking care of yourself, just make sure you're doing it with an eternal perspective. Also, we can draw from this (if you draw it out enough), that feeling good or happy isn't necessarily a bad thing, now you may think that this self evident, but there have been so many groups through history who have taught that the best way to worship God is through self-penitence, (take for example what some monks used to do...).

Now note, I haven't said anywhere in this post that it's okay to act in a way that is to harm another for your own good. Far from it. The point I am trying to make is that someone who is truly selfish will act in ways which are good for others, as they are also good for them self, usually in this life, if not, then in the next.

So my concluding comment for this post is that we are often asked by the media, or by friends, or whoever, "who or what would you die for". How many people can honestly say that they are in the process of dying in the full service of themselves?

Yours In Christ... Thumpy.