Philippians 3:18-20 “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

How much do you love this world? Do you spend your days selfishly pursuing your own interests? Is the next best thing just around the corner and you cannot wait to have it, or do it? Your life is caught up in all of the pleasures of the world. You go from one earthly thing to another in the pursuit of what pleases you. Do you satisfy self before ever considering another?

As Christian’s are pursuits should not be for self and selfish gain. We are to be servants here on this earth while we await Christ’s return. Our interests should be directed at others and how we can fulfill a need. Working together beside other believers to further the work of God, loving, giving, serving, helping etc. We are warned not to pursue selfish ambitions. We are encouraged to follow Christ’s example while we walk this earth. Although free, it is not a freedom to look inward, fulfilling selfishness. We are to take every opportunity to be the best us we can be.

No, there is nothing wrong with having nice things, having a good job, taking vacations and the like, but if all we ever do revolves around us and our wants we have missed the mark. Our minds need to have Christ at the forefront of our thinking, our relationship with him should dictate our lives and our lives should look more and more like Jesus the longer we live and serve on this earth.

One day we will be with the Lord either through death or when we are caught up into the air to meet him upon his return for his church. Personally, I want to be found doing the work of the Lord, loving and serving in a way pleasing to him. I do not want to be so preoccupied with getting more hear that I no longer desire his return and the thought of leaving it all behind makes me upset.

We need to “press on” in every good way while we wait. We are to live our lives in such a way that others take note of it, not to draw attention to ourselves, but to draw attention to Christ. Our words and our walks need to reflect Jesus.

Maybe after reading this, you find yourself thinking, “what am I doing for others?” “Are the things I do solely for self?” If so, and the Lord is calling you out of selfishness into a greater thing, then simply repent, say I am sorry and surrender “self” to him. If you say I am not sure where to start or with whom, he will show you that as well, just ask. God loves surrendered lives; lives lived in a sacrificial way. Love does…remember that!