Breaking Selfishness: How Radical Generosity Transforms the Church
Breaking selfishness is hard. Selfishness is a vortex, constantly pulling us inward, making life about what we can gain. But the gospel calls us to something different. As the church, we look up in worship to a selfless God—the Father who gives His Son, the Son who gives His life, and the Spirit who magnifies the grace of them both. And we look out to love and serve others.
Learning from the Good Samaritan
Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) to illustrate what true love looks like. The Samaritan didn’t just help; he sacrificed:
- He gave his time—he stopped to help.
- He gave his heart—he felt compassion.
- He gave up his safety—the road was dangerous.
- He used his resources—bandages, oil, and wine.
- He gave financially—covering the cost of the man’s care.
This wasn’t a random act of kindness; it was a costly act of love. Radical generosity means giving even when there’s no return on investment.
Breaking Selfishness Through Giving
The family of God operates at its best when people give themselves away. But consumerism threatens this by making us focus on what we get rather than what we give. True discipleship asks, “Who can I serve?” instead of “What’s in it for me?”
Here’s how we can break selfishness through giving:
- Give Financially – Tithing (1 Cor. 9:6-8) and generosity provide for ministry and meet real needs.
- Give by Serving – Church isn’t a spectator event. Get involved in greeting, nursery, kids’ ministry, or prayer teams.
- Give by Being a Friend – We’re living in an epidemic of isolation. Proverbs 18:24 reminds us that friendship requires us to be intentional. Church isn’t just about Sundays—it’s about showing up for each other throughout the week.
The Upside-Down Kingdom
In God’s Kingdom, when we give, we receive even more in return. Many times, when we feel drained, serving someone else is what fills us back up.
As we prepare for another round of House to House, an opportunity to connect with other families over a meal, let’s step into radical generosity. Breaking selfishness isn’t just about giving—it’s about transforming our hearts and our church family.
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