Self Interest

God’s Kingdom is not built on the profit motive.   The world’s favorite verb is “get.”   The verb of the Christian is “give.”   Self-interest is basic in modern society.   Everyone asks, “What’s in it for me?”   In a current world founded on materialism, this is natural and normal.

But in God’s Kingdom, self-interest is not basic.   Selflessness is.   The founder of this all, Jesus Christ, was rich, and yet He became poor that we “through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).   Jesus disciples followed Him, and it was said of them, “Neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own”  (Acts 4:32)   The apostles realized that there is no permanent value in worldly goods and cherished the abiding values of the Spirit.   They lived with eternity in view.

Today we too often hold spiritual things in contempt and lust after the things of this world.   Little wonder that the world is in state of turmoil.   Mammon is worshipped, and God is disdained.   Pleasure takes precedence over purity, and gain is considered greater than God.   But in God’s Kingdom he that is greatest among you is the servant of all (Matthew 23:11).   Service to God and to mankind is put above self-interest.   Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).   Christ proved His words by doing exactly that for us.