Read
Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves, do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church — a love marked by giving, not getting.”
Think
“A concern for one’s own welfare at the expense of others.” Sound familiar? It should because it’s the definition of selfishness — a trait we all struggle with.
For children, selfishness is first manifested when they learn the word “mine.” Teenagers often exhibit it in various forms of entitlement. Adults disguise selfishness with words like “preferences” or “needs.”
Marriage forces couples to push past selfish desires and needs to serve their spouse. It’s about living to give, not to get. Marriage should mirror Christ’s love for His bride — the Church. Therefore, we have the opportunity to imitate His love by meeting our spouse’s needs.
We don’t have to wait until we get married to identify selfishness. When we date people who have a track record for serving in His house, it can give us confidence that they will serve us in our house in the future.
How do we combat the urge of selfishness? We practice self-LESS-ness by thinking of ourselves less and putting the needs of others before our own. Do this, and God will richly bless your life all the MORE!
Act
Think of some practical ways that you can serve your spouse today. Maybe that includes making their morning coffee before work or offering to help them with their daily responsibilities.
If you’re not married, consider getting more plugged in to serving in God’s house. Who knows? It may be there that you meet your future spouse!
Pray
Dear Lord, Help me to be selfless in my daily routine. Reveal the areas in which I tend to be most self-centered. And show me how I can serve others more tangibly and put their needs before my own. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
