Selfishness Is A Choice – Sunday Thought For The Day

Of the many qualities that I love about my wife, the most endearing is her unselfishness. One of the ways her unselfishness is exhibited is particularly special to me because of the way she displays it.

I enjoy cigars. I particularly enjoy a cigar as I am driving. My wife has never smoked. But she enjoys when we spend time together as I enjoy my cigar, because she knows she is a part of something that is special to me. This was particularly evident recently as we were enjoying a mild, star lined sky on our way home from the restaurant of a friend.

There was also the afternoon during the Christmas holiday past that she went with me to meet the guys at a “joint” we enjoy, that is cigar friendly and has outstanding bar food. She was the only wife who was not working that day and it was the guys who insisted she join us over cigars and good bar food. It was special to me because she was with me, but it was also special because the “guys” enjoyed her company and she enjoyed being there.

Going to flea markets, yard sales and flower shows has never been at the top of my “I cannot wait to do this list”, but spending the time with her at same makes me smile because, I know what it means to her having me take pleasure in what she enjoys.

A truly unselfish spouse is a blessing from God. The ability to enjoy something that you do not necessarily like/enjoy, if you like/enjoy it at all, because your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend enjoys it, is unselfishness.

If you’re wondering where I am going with this “Sunday Thought”, I’m going to the “Cross.”

Jesus wasn’t going to the cross for Himself as such, He was going for us. He was fully aware of the pain he would suffer. Pain, agony and separation so great that He would cry out: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Jesus endured suffering on the cross for the “joy that that was set before Him.” That “joy” was the path of salvation for us. Had He been selfish, both He and us would have missed being enjoined in a special relationship for now and eternity.

What Jesus did for us was the greatest act of unselfishness in the history of creation. He valued the pain/suffering He would endure of the greatest value for you and I more than he did any moment theretofore.

Perhaps the next time we chose to demand someone not do something they enjoy, because we do not, maybe we should think of Jesus and His unselfish act for us. He suffered so that we could enjoy a relationship with Him. For those who are saying, yes but, that was different, I say selfishness has but one definition with many examples.

Have a blessed Resurrection Day.

READ: Hebrews 12:1-3 (KJV)
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.