SELFIE

In this crazy world of selfie promotion, how do we practice Christian humility? How do we balance being set apart from the world and service?

Free from Selfie

For instance, best-selling author Timothy Keller explains in his book, The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness, “Gospel humility is not thinking more or less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.” This can be difficult in an all-about-me culture. From childhood we are trained to be full of self-confidence, and soon we become performance driven. But once we realize we are whole and complete in Christ, we can shift our focus: helping people just to help them, not for what they can give us in return. We love, give, and experience life in the freedom of knowing our blessings come from outside ourselves.

Bible Advice

Luke 6:37 rounds out this perspective: “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity,” The Message.

Therefore, as Christians we set an example of Christ’s love. Not through acting judgmental or superior, but by a difference in our motives, attitudes, and patterns of behavior. Our selflessness sets us apart. We can shine the light of promotion toward the love of God and the sacrifice of Christ for all people.

1 John 2:16, The Message: “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.”