Generosity in the Face of Greed
This past week I have witnessed acts of greed and acts of generosity within my family. The first was greed, plain and simple. A selfishness which drives out any feelings of care for another. The second was an act of love and caring which brought restoration.
In seeing all of this happen, it has made me look at myself and ask which scenario I would find myself in. Would I be the one who brings hurt and strife, or the one who brings healing and restoration? That is what I take away from this. It is a lesson for me in how our actions impact others. Beyond that, our actions have the ability to hurt or heal those who were not even directly on the receiving/taking end.
I read a book a while back that had a statement which has stuck with me, and one I think of often. I'll summarize it because I don't have the book now to directly quote it.
The inevitable destination of selfishness is isolation.I've thought about this comment over the past year or so since I read that book and have seen the truth of it. Selfishness drives away anyone and anything that stands in the way of ME. To the extent that, eventually, all that is left is ME...
That is a sobering thought. I want to carry this lesson with me and pray that the Lord will remind me of it often and fill me with His love and compassion for others.
posted by Erica @ 11:09 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Really great thoughts and just what I needed to hear.
I tend to isolate myself from others in group settings, thinking that I have nothing of value to offer. In speaking that, it seems like that would be the opposite of selfishness, but when you are so focused on yourself and how you are going to be perceived, it is extremely selfish.
The reality is that we are created by God and He is our focus, not on what we can become through our own strength. So, I guess the message in all this is relax and be confident in who God has created you to be. (I'm speaking to myself here!)
Thanks Erica, for writing this post. It has been an encourgement to me!
Christy :)
Thanks for your comment Christy. I agree with what you said, and hadn't really thought about that angle from what I was writing. I appreciate your thoughts!
Erica :)
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