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4 Ways to be Selfless in an All-About-Me World
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All about Jesus
Spiritual Growth

4 Ways to be Selfless in an All-About-Me World

November 18, 2019
-
Posted by Cindi

It feels good to be all about us, doesn’t it? Especially when everyone else is, too. 

But when Jesus told His followers to deny themselves, pick up their crosses, and follow Him (Luke 9:23), He was telling them to live differently by living unselfishly. He wasn’t merely implying that we push aside our desires for a while. He was telling us to put to death our insistence on living for ourselves and start living for Him by serving others.  

So, how do you and I follow the instructions in Philippians 2:3 and β€œdo nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit” in this β€œme-first,” β€œme, too” and β€œall about me” world? Here are four ways to be less selfish and more others-focused from the time we rise in the morning, until the time we retire at night. 

  1. Learn to overlook an offense. 

When someone bad-mouths you, misunderstands you, or does something that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up, Scripture gives us this jewel: β€œitΒ is to one’s glory toΒ overlookΒ anΒ offense” (Proverbs 19:11). When we are all about ourselves, we tend to think we have to defend ourselves, set others straight on their misconceptions about us, and stay in prime image-management mode so no one ever thinks less of us than we think of ourselves. But, if we are children of our Heavenly Father, God’s got our backs,Β His name is our name, and He can protect His own.Β 

To overlook an offense is to show meekness and a humility that says β€œI am not as important as I think I am, so I’ll let God take care of me, reputation and all.” 

2. Compliment instead of criticize.

Do you have a critical spirit that notices what’s wrong with others and wants to make sure they know it, too? Or worse yet, do you ever cut someone down to make yourself feel a little bit taller? 

When you focus on how you can build up others and give them words that encourage and empower them, you are applying Ephesians 4:29, which instructs: β€œDo not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Unwholesome talk isn’t just gossip or saying bad words. It can also be talk that boasts of you, instead of praising God and others.  

3. Let others go first. 

Jesus taught β€œmany who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” (Matthew 19:30).This is contrary to this culture’s priority to β€œLook out for No. 1” and to seek the first place in line, the best place at the table, and the most note-worthy title. 

We are instructed in Romans 12:2 to not conform to the patterns of this world, β€œbut be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  A renewed mind will put others first like Jesus did. Philippians 2:3-4 instructs us to humbly value others above ourselves and to do that by β€œnot looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”

4. Be okay with not being noticed. 

Are you okay with not being recognized, applauded, or even appreciated? This non-entitlement attitude is rare today, especially when you are among people who feel entitled, demand respect, and are used to getting awards and applause for simply doing what is expected.

Jesus encouraged obscurity when He taught: β€œBut when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:3-4).Β In other words, don’t be impressed with yourself or boast about your generosity, or look for paybacks for your kindness. Don’t do anything that smacks of β€œlook at me!” We is always better than me, so seek to be part of a team that serves others so you won’t be tempted to want the glory for yourself.Β 

Watch for four more ways to be selfless on next week’s blog. In the meantime, which of these four is most challenging to you? Let me know in the comment section below, and I’ll tell you mine, too. πŸ™‚

November 18, 2019
9 Comments
Cindi
Cindi McMenamin is an award-winning author and national speaker who helps women find strength for the soul. She has nearly 35 years experience ministering to women and inspiring them to let God meet their emotional needs, grow stronger through their alone times, and pursue their dreams with boldness.
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9 Comments

on 4 Ways to be Selfless in an All-About-Me World.
  1. Karen
    November 19, 2019 @ 11:02 pm
    -
    Reply

    Thank you for this blog as well as the others on how to be like Jesus. I struggle with #1-Learn to overlook an offense and #4- Be okay with not being noticed.

    People do notice me because I am a very tall woman, but I want to be noticed for qualities other than my height. I desire validation of my ideas, my feelings, and who I am as a woman of God. God is maturing me to find my identity and validation in Him, so if others don’t notice me, that’s ok, because the Lord knows me and sees me. He is also helping me to overlook offenses. I am starting to see it as a precious quality from God to be so selfless and not to need to defend myself but to commit myself unto Jesus.

    • Cindi
      November 20, 2019 @ 12:08 am
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      Reply

      Thank you for those beautiful words, Karen. I’m embarrassed to admit this but I struggle with no. 3 — especially when it comes to the dessert line. Seriously! If there’s some good-looking chocolate or creamy-looking somethings at the women’s retreat dessert tables, I want to be among the first in line so I get one. At the retreats where I speak, the women are always so kind and offer to let me go ahead of them anyway, so I have to practice honoring them by insisting they get their dessert first. I guess true spiritual growth in me will be when I truly want others to have that dessert even more than I want it. Let’s pray for each other. πŸ˜‰

      • Karen
        November 21, 2019 @ 2:31 pm
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        Reply

        Yes, let’s pray for one another. πŸ™‚

  2. Kay Harper
    November 20, 2019 @ 6:14 pm
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    Reply

    my post on my Facebook page today is “Overlooking an Offense!” Glad to be writing in sync with you! Blessings of the richest kind! Kay

    • Cindi
      November 20, 2019 @ 6:49 pm
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      Reply

      Ha! I’ll check it out. Thanks, Kay. πŸ™‚

  3. Sherry
    November 21, 2019 @ 1:10 pm
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    Reply

    So so good❀

    • Cindi
      November 21, 2019 @ 7:19 pm
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      Reply

      Thanks for reading, Sherry. πŸ™‚

  4. Connie Boyd
    November 22, 2019 @ 1:02 am
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    Reply

    Ugh…all things that the Lord is working out in me during this season. Especially #4 with the conference planning – constantly making sure the focus is on Him. I have had an issue with #1 and appreciate this perspective as I had been focusing on the Lord clearing my name, vindicating me. This perspective is much more peaceful πŸ’ž thanks for he encouragement!

    • Cindi
      November 22, 2019 @ 2:25 am
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      Reply

      Thanks for your honesty, Connie. I think we all struggle with self-vindication. Until we remember that God’s got our back and can vindicate us far better than we can — every time.

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