I am convinced that there is nothing compelling--nothing captivating--nothing beautiful about selfishness.
Tell me a story in which a character is in love with himself and makes great sacrifices to make himself happy, and I will walk away disappointed. Show me a movie where a character overcomes conflict so she can walk away from her family to pursue her dreams, and I will walk away troubled. Play me a song where a character desperately wants to amass wealth so he robs from the poor and needy, and I will walk away angry. BUT tell me a story in which a character is in love with someone else and makes great sacrifices to make the other person happy, and I will walk away inspired. Show me a movie where a character overcomes conflict so she can stay with her family, and I will walk away enriched. Play me a song where a character desperately wants to give his wealth away to the poor and needy, and I will walk away incited.
And yet, the great lie of our age and every age, continually wins my allegiance--the lie that selfishness brings happiness / that my happiness is the number one priority / that my fulfillment trumps the fulfillment of others / that I am the center of the universe / that I deserve to be happy and fulfilled . . . however we choose to state it, tragically selfishness continues to garner my affection.
When I see selfishness modeled--I hate it. When I take the time to examine my life and see my selfishness--I hate it. I don't want to live that way--but how can I keep myself from sliding into that familiar pattern, popularized by Adam and Eve?
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31
The lives that captivate us, the movies that enrich us, the books that inspire us, the songs that move us are consistently stories of love for God and love for others. May I live out that kind of story today.
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