Paul writes: ‘Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had’ (vv.3-5 NLT). Becoming more selfless begins with the decision to stop thinking about ourselves so much and start looking for ways to help others. If we want to become more Christlike and selfless, here are two things we should start doing: 1) We need to put ourselves in situations where people have needs. That can feel risky. We risk facing rejection and we risk being misunderstood. We also risk making mistakes. But becoming unselfish requires putting ourselves in a position where we can see a person’s need and do something about it. We need to start noticing when people need our help, and start valuing their needs above our own. 2) We need to give quietly or anonymously. Jesus said: ‘Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired…for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven…Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you’ (Matthew 6:1-4 NLT). Sometimes we can find it easier to give when we know we’ll receive recognition than when no one knows about it. But there are spiritual, mental, and emotional benefits that come to those who give anonymously. We shouldn’t be giving just to please others, or to look good. We should be giving because we want to help someone else. It’s all in the heart. Is our heart looking for affirmation or to genuinely meet someone’s needs? Let’s make selfless giving our lifestyle.

What Now?

Do a random act of kindness today – but don’t tell the person that it was you. Keep it anonymous.