Becoming Radically Unselfish

I think you'd agree with me that selfishness is downright ugly. And yet, social inequality has never been greater in this world. The rich have become incredibly rich. The poor have become incredibly poor. "So," you may be thinking, "what are you saying Berni? Are you suggesting I should feel guilty over what I have? Are you saying that I should give more to the poor?" Charles Dickens, in his Novel "The Tale of Two Cities" wrote  that "it is a melancholy truth that even great men have their poor relations." Yep, whatever your situation, there is inevitably someone close to you who's worse off than you who could use your help. But all too often, we're not all that good at showing compassion. Much easier to judge them – Well, if they'd worked harder, saved more … if they hadn't made those bad decisions. You know how it goes. Back in the early church, in the first century AD, the impact that Jesus had had on their lives had a different effect. It made them radically generous. Acts 2:44-45 All the believers stayed together and shared everything. They sold their land and the things they owned. Then they divided the money and gave it to those who needed it. Perhaps God's not calling you to sell up everything you have at this point. But without doubt, there's someone close to you who could use a helping hand. Who is that person? Or who is that family? American pastor and theologian Tim Keller talked about being attractively different. Imagine how attractively different you would be, how much you could speak of the love of Jesus, by becoming radically generous; by helping that one person, that one family, whom God has laid on your heart. Imagine! That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.