Articles
Christ-Like Disciples (2)
Last week, we began our look at some of the characteristics of our Lord Jesus Christ that all disciples should emulate and make a part of their own identity [compassion]. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are expected to follow His example and, as John wrote, “Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did” (1st John 2:6; NIV). We will have great difficulty convincing the world they need to change [repent] and follow God if they do not see obvious signs in our lives that we have done the same, and continue to do the same. Today, let us consider the selflessness of Jesus.
To be selfless, by definition, means “having little or no concern for oneself, especially with regard to fame, position, money, etc.” [Random House Unabridged Dictionary] The MacMillan Dictionary defines it as “caring about other people’s needs and problems more than your own.” It is a mindset of doing whatever must be done, without concern for any repayment and possibly in spite of the fact no one may ever know or care; it is the mindset of focusing on others and not on self. It is a mindset we see rarely in today’s self-centered world.
We live in a world where self is the center of most people’s life and, to them, everything and everyone else revolves around them. What is commonly known as social media is really a misnomer; it is less about being social and more about displaying and promoting self. According to one source, as of December 2016, there were over 282 million selfies on Instagram, but 82% of Instagram users have taken a selfie. If the 82% number is correct, that means there have been over 820 million selfies taken. Another source said 70% of Snapchat users have taken a selfie, which would mean another 205 million selfies are out there. From just these two social media platforms, there are literally one billion selfies out there for the world to see. I don’t think it is a stretch to say this world in which we live is self-centered.
As a contrast, we must look to Jesus. Jesus, even before He came to this Earth, acted selflessly in leaving heaven behind to come to this Earth and die for us. He was more concerned for us than He was for Himself. To leave heaven meant leaving a place with no sin or unrighteousness or ungodliness or impurities or evil, and coming to a world filled with all of those things. He left the place we all strive to attain to for people who had rejected God and would reject Him, too. He would love people who had no love for Him. He would willingly give His life for the very people who would gladly take it from Him. In all He did, He was thinking not of Himself, but of us and what we needed. That, friends and brethren, is true selflessness.
He demonstrated that same attitude of selflessness throughout His time on Earth, too. For example, after the beheading of His cousin, John the Baptist, “When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself” (Matt. 14:1-13). I would imagine Jesus wanted time by Himself to mourn the loss of one who was not just a close relative, but also one who had been preparing the way for His entrance into the world as the Christ. But then we read, “But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.” Did Jesus send them away, telling them He needed time to mourn? Was He angry at their imposition at that time of sorrow? No; what we read is, “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick” (Matt. 14:14).
And when the disciples came to Him, even they told Him, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food” (Matt. 14:15), but Jesus told them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat” (Matt. 14:16), which then led to the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:17-21). He could have demanded they just all go away, and I believe most would have been understanding, considering the circumstance; but He did not send them away. He was selfless with His time and emotional burden because He was more concerned with the people than with Himself — the very definition of selfless.
And, of course, we cannot go without mentioning His ultimate act of selflessness: His death on the cross. Not long before He was to be taken away, He prayed in the Garden, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39). Again, we see His attitude of selflessness. And the fact He “died for the ungodly” and “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” and “when we were enemies” (Rom. 5:6, 8, 10) tells us the extent to which His selflessness was demonstrated. Paul even wrote, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die” (Rom. 5:7), but Christ did not die for “a righteous man” or even “a good man,” but for the ungodly, the sinners, and God’s enemies. His concern was for our spiritual condition, and not for His physical comfort or even His life. That, friends and brethren, is selflessness. It is a characteristic that should describe us, too.
We Must Be Concerned for Others More Than Self. The self-centered world in which we now live does not encourage selflessness and, in fact, ridicules the very idea. Especially in this country where we exalt personal liberties and Constitutional rights, it is an anomaly when someone forgoes their ‘rights;’ or liberties for the sake of another. In that, we must be different than the world around us and more like Jesus. We must “esteem others better than [self]” and “look out not only for [our] own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3, 4). We must be selfless in our thinking; when we are selfless in our thinking, then it will naturally follow that our actions will be likewise selfless.
We Must Strive to Please Others. The admonition of Paul that speaks to selflessness is seen in his words to the Roman brethren when he wrote, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification” (Rom. 15:1, 2). selflessness is not about pleasing self, but others. This, of course, is limited by what God would have us do, but when there is no conflict with God’s will and it’s just a matter of opinion or personal preference, selflessness is the preferable course of action.
We Must Strive to Please God Above All — Especially Self. And, of course, as disciples have as our primary aim to be pleasing to God. Paul sets this example in his words to the brethren at Corinth when he wrote, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him” (2 Cor. 5:9). This means, as disciples of Jesus Christ, every individual must “deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow” Jesus (Matt. 16:24). Selflessness is where we begin, as His disciples, and without such, we cannot even be His disciples!
Selflessness is not a popular characteristic in today’s society but, in reality, it never has been and probably never will be. Man tends to think of self first — and second and third. We like to do whatever we want and we tend to get upset when someone gets preference over us or obtains what we wanted for ourselves. But, friend, selfishness will keep you out of heaven. — Steven Harper
