Your character is the first thing people notice about you; It reveals your identity in Christ and it attracts others to you. One of the Christian characters to develop is selflessness. Jesus Christ said it’s the second most important of God’s commandments (Mark 12:31; Galatians 5:14). How you handle certain situations, how charitable and generous you are to others, how you speak to others and the way you treat them is most important to God than anything else in the world.
When God gave his only begotten son to the humankind and with cruelty, his son was brutally murdered, God did not stop loving mankind. When Jesus Christ was taunted and insulted by his kinsmen, he simply retreated and said, ‘a prophet is not honoured in his hometown (Luke 4:24)’. Could you have a right to something yet give it up for somebody else without getting involved in an argument? God expects us to act accordingly, to be selfless in words and indeed.
My Story
I had an experience that shook me to the bone marrow recently. I travelled with some Christians and as we were tired, we all looked for a place to rest a little before we continued on our journey. We eventually found a hotel and we all made a dash for the pool area. But as soon as we entered the pool area, I had my eyes set on a particular sitting area and a particular chair, unknown to me that somebody else also had their eyes on the same place. But as soon as I realised that the other person headed towards the same chair, I raced towards it in competition. Although he got there before me and I quickly plunked myself down on the chair, he didn’t make any protest, instead, he simply resigned to getting another chair. This put me to shame. I was meant to be a Christian. I was meant to be selfless. I was meant to think of others first yet I failed in this test of my Christian character.
Even though we live in a world where everybody is self-centred and nobody really cares about the other person’s feelings, Jesus expects us to display the selfless character. As Christians, we ought to drop the “Me. Me, Me” attitude and start saying “We and Us”. Nobody is created as an Island. We are all created to help one another, to be one another’s companion, to help carry the other person’s burden, Everybody wants to get ahead in life without thinking of the other person’s state of mind or affairs.
Although the only person who could be consistently selfless without prejudice is Christ Jesus, His selfless character is one of the things we should all aspire to have in our lives. He was not just a being with spiritual powers, he was as human as He could be with a selfless and caring nature towards others, this is what made him such a great person to emulate. If we can only strive to be like Christ and develop this great character, we would reap the reward in the bounty. Everybody may be competing for the same thing but we must live the life Christ called us to live. Christ called us to a life of selflessness, a life of service to others. Jesus expects us to think of others first.
Would you purpose in your heart to be selfless henceforth?. Think of others first. Don’t insist on your rights and beliefs, walk away like Jesus did if you smell trouble brewing. Below is a set of Bible declarations to help you on your selfless Christian journey.
Speak the Word over yourself and Change your world for good.
Day 1.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
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Day 2.
I pledge to do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride henceforth, but in humility, I will consider others more important than myself. I will no longer look only to my own interests but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4)
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Day 3.
I will put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no room for the flesh, nor gratify its desires (Romans 13:14).
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Day 4.
I will love others because God is love (1 John 4:8).
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Day 5.
I will submit myself to others out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).
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Day 6.
I choose to live by the Spirit and walk in step with the Spirit of God. I will not become conceited, provoke others nor be jealous of others (Galatians 5:26).
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Day 7.
I will not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but I will love my neighbour as myself as God gives me grace (Leviticus 19:18).
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Day 8.
As God gives me grace, I will love my enemies, do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, and pray for those who mistreat me (Luke 6:27-28).
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Day 9.
As the elect of God, holy and beloved by God, I declare that I am clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Forbearing with others and forgiving any complaint I may have against any other person. I choose to forgive as the Lord has forgiven me (Colossians 3:12-13).
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Day 10.
I declare I am united in one mind with Christ, having the same attitude as Christ had and being humble and sympathetic with others. I will love others as brothers and sisters love one another, I will be tender-hearted and be humble. I will not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this I have been called so that I may inherit a blessing from God (1 Peter 3:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8).
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