Selfish vs Selfless Life

[Tim]

How do you personally view the balance between a selfish & selfless life?

As a Christian we are given the example of Christ's selflessness and told to emulate Christ. We don't see Jesus caring for a personal family (wife & kids), working for the money to pay rent & food, signed up for ministries at the local Church, and constantly keeping up on health & maintenance of life. And yet, his example was the suffering and death of the Cross. Bible says in Matthew 16:24 to deny  ourselves and take up our cross and follow him ...

Recently we made a decision that put our personal needs on top of another brother and sisters need. I must admit, I feel a little guilty and I am trying to understand this concept of helping others, putting Christ first, and the sacrifice of following Christ while also caring for an earthy body and family.

Seems life is all about self. We need to eat, sleep, and stay alive. I know we can trust God to care for us - but we can't all just wander the earth like sparrows .... can we?

And yes, as a parent I can selflessly care for my family - but as a family unit how do be balance selfishness vs selflessness? When do you not buy that extra food item because you know some poor person needs it. Should you even own a home? Waste money on a movie? Only do what is needed and nothing more.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

How do you personally view the balance between a selfish & selfless life?

As a Christian we are given the example of Christ's selflessness and told to emulate Christ. We don't see Jesus caring for a personal family (wife & kids), working for the money to pay rent & food, signed up for ministries at the local Church, and constantly keeping up on health & maintenance of life. And yet, his example was the suffering and death of the Cross. Bible says in Matthew 16:24 to deny  ourselves and take up our cross and follow him ...

Recently we made a decision that put our personal needs on top of another brother and sisters need. I must admit, I feel a little guilty and I am trying to understand this concept of helping others, putting Christ first, and the sacrifice of following Christ while also caring for an earthy body and family.

Seems life is all about self. We need to eat, sleep, and stay alive. I know we can trust God to care for us - but we can't all just wander the earth like sparrows .... can we?

And yes, as a parent I can selflessly care for my family - but as a family unit how do be balance selfishness vs selflessness? When do you not buy that extra food item because you know some poor person needs it. Should you even own a home? Waste money on a movie? Only do what is needed and nothing more.

Love others deeply and let the weight of this kind of conscience fall away.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

How do you personally view the balance between a selfish & selfless life?

As a Christian we are given the example of Christ's selflessness and told to emulate Christ. We don't see Jesus caring for a personal family (wife & kids), working for the money to pay rent & food, signed up for ministries at the local Church, and constantly keeping up on health & maintenance of life. And yet, his example was the suffering and death of the Cross. Bible says in Matthew 16:24 to deny  ourselves and take up our cross and follow him ...

Recently we made a decision that put our personal needs on top of another brother and sisters need. I must admit, I feel a little guilty and I am trying to understand this concept of helping others, putting Christ first, and the sacrifice of following Christ while also caring for an earthy body and family.

Seems life is all about self. We need to eat, sleep, and stay alive. I know we can trust God to care for us - but we can't all just wander the earth like sparrows .... can we?

And yes, as a parent I can selflessly care for my family - but as a family unit how do be balance selfishness vs selflessness? When do you not buy that extra food item because you know some poor person needs it. Should you even own a home? Waste money on a movie? Only do what is needed and nothing more.

Love others deeply and let the weight of this kind of conscience fall away.

Drown out the noise? That seem kind of anti-Bible in a way.

It seems you are looking for a line of demarcation. Worrying about that line hinders us from loving.

It is because we don't know, God gives us grace.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

How do you personally view the balance between a selfish & selfless life?

As a Christian we are given the example of Christ's selflessness and told to emulate Christ. We don't see Jesus caring for a personal family (wife & kids), working for the money to pay rent & food, signed up for ministries at the local Church, and constantly keeping up on health & maintenance of life. And yet, his example was the suffering and death of the Cross. Bible says in Matthew 16:24 to deny  ourselves and take up our cross and follow him ...

Recently we made a decision that put our personal needs on top of another brother and sisters need. I must admit, I feel a little guilty and I am trying to understand this concept of helping others, putting Christ first, and the sacrifice of following Christ while also caring for an earthy body and family.

Seems life is all about self. We need to eat, sleep, and stay alive. I know we can trust God to care for us - but we can't all just wander the earth like sparrows .... can we?

And yes, as a parent I can selflessly care for my family - but as a family unit how do be balance selfishness vs selflessness? When do you not buy that extra food item because you know some poor person needs it. Should you even own a home? Waste money on a movie? Only do what is needed and nothing more.

Love others deeply and let the weight of this kind of conscience fall away.

Drown out the noise? That seem kind of anti-Bible in a way.

It seems you are looking for a line of demarcation. Worrying about that line hinders us from loving.

It is because we don't know, God gives us grace.

No. I see a line and I wonder if it is even okay to have that line. I have long believed that my family comes first and is my primary duty/focus for serving God right now. We help others, give, assist .. I am not saying we live in a bubble of self. But, recently I heard that 1 Timothy 5:8 also refers to our spiritual family.

Sunday night my wife stays home with the little ones since she is in the nursery and away from the service. We assume she is doing her God given duty to care for children and put them to bed and such ... the alternative would be A) stay in nursery, or B) bring them all into sanctuary and deal with grumpy kids who don't understand the message anyway. But. Perhaps God wants her to come so she could be the permanent nursery worker at night. But. As human nature works this would become permanent by assumption and then she will let people down when she can't be at service and they have to deal with kids ...

I say all that to simply say. Selfish vs Selfless. Where does the Bible stand? Is it selfish to stay home and not see what God would have in store for her?

If you see a line, you are too busy looking down at your feet instead of looking outward.

There is no right or wrong answer to your wife's situation. And who says God won't have something in store for her at home instead of church?

 

[Smellin Coffee]

How do you personally view the balance between a selfish & selfless life?

As a Christian we are given the example of Christ's selflessness and told to emulate Christ. We don't see Jesus caring for a personal family (wife & kids), working for the money to pay rent & food, signed up for ministries at the local Church, and constantly keeping up on health & maintenance of life. And yet, his example was the suffering and death of the Cross. Bible says in Matthew 16:24 to deny  ourselves and take up our cross and follow him ...

Recently we made a decision that put our personal needs on top of another brother and sisters need. I must admit, I feel a little guilty and I am trying to understand this concept of helping others, putting Christ first, and the sacrifice of following Christ while also caring for an earthy body and family.

Seems life is all about self. We need to eat, sleep, and stay alive. I know we can trust God to care for us - but we can't all just wander the earth like sparrows .... can we?

And yes, as a parent I can selflessly care for my family - but as a family unit how do be balance selfishness vs selflessness? When do you not buy that extra food item because you know some poor person needs it. Should you even own a home? Waste money on a movie? Only do what is needed and nothing more.

Love others deeply and let the weight of this kind of conscience fall away.

Drown out the noise? That seem kind of anti-Bible in a way.

It seems you are looking for a line of demarcation. Worrying about that line hinders us from loving.

It is because we don't know, God gives us grace.

No. I see a line and I wonder if it is even okay to have that line. I have long believed that my family comes first and is my primary duty/focus for serving God right now. We help others, give, assist .. I am not saying we live in a bubble of self. But, recently I heard that 1 Timothy 5:8 also refers to our spiritual family.

Sunday night my wife stays home with the little ones since she is in the nursery and away from the service. We assume she is doing her God given duty to care for children and put them to bed and such ... the alternative would be A) stay in nursery, or B) bring them all into sanctuary and deal with grumpy kids who don't understand the message anyway. But. Perhaps God wants her to come so she could be the permanent nursery worker at night. But. As human nature works this would become permanent by assumption and then she will let people down when she can't be at service and they have to deal with kids ...

I say all that to simply say. Selfish vs Selfless. Where does the Bible stand? Is it selfish to stay home and not see what God would have in store for her?

If you see a line, you are too busy looking down at your feet instead of looking outward.

There is no right or wrong answer to your wife's situation. And who says God won't have something in store for her at home instead of church?

That is what we have been saying all along.

Which means there is no distinguishable line in this scenario.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

That is what we have been saying all along.

Quoting someone else here, but think it is apropos:

You have the right not to be damaged by words that do not apply to you. When you encounter criticisms that do not fit?simply refuse delivery.

 

[FSSL]

How do you personally view the balance between a selfish & selfless life?

I vote Republican.