REFLECTIONS

Selfish Acts

The act was about as selfish as an act can be. Little consideration was given to others around. Oh, there may have been some concern about those directly in the line of sight; but on the periphery, there were others who were not considered at all. I wish I had remembered that they were watching too.

The scenario is probably familiar to us all. Most of us have made decisions based solely on selfish desire. “This time it’s about me,” we might say; or like one NBA star declared, “I’m no role model.” But he was.

On the playing field his skills gained him recognition, position, and respect. The press praised him highly for his athletic prowess and he was highly sought for guest appearances and autographs. But off the court, his life painted a much different picture. He chased “fun” as if there would be no tomorrow. He wanted the freedom to do as he pleased with no accountability, and his “no role model” disclaimer was an attempt to declare his independence from responsibility.

It is easy to cast stones at public figures for their selfish acts and to criticize their behavior for the poor examples they set for others. But might we all be guilty too? We all have “a public” that is watching. The choices we make and the priorities we set become examples that have far greater influence on others than the words we speak. Selfish acts are the worst of all.

Certainly there are times when self-care should be addressed. The need for self-care is the reason God established a day of rest, and why retreat-centers are so badly needed. But most often situations call for personal wishes to be set aside and sacrifices made.  Sacrifices require possessions to be surrendered, or time for personal desires to be set aside for another day.

“I’m not going to give up anything for anybody,” we want to commit to ourselves and at the exclusion of others—even God. But someone is watching; and someone will be disappointed, hurt, or misguided by our selfish acts. But as much as we hope to live the way we want, sacrifices for others can be the most healing of all the things we can do.

And after forgoing the right to live as we want, it won’t feel like a sacrifice at all.

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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