A Journey - From Selfishness to Selflessness

I think of my walk with Christ as a journey, from being selfish to becoming more and more selfless. I’m not saying I’ve reached a point of being totally selfless by any means. 

For me the YMCA Ragger Program helped frame this journey during my walk with Christ. When we begin our walk with our Savior, I dare say we are a bit selfish. We even serve God if we see something in it for us. Along the journey however, we find that we just need to humble ourselves before God. This is a huge step along our walk. Totally yielding to God’s authority and His will, and being willing to follow Him are truly selfless acts. 

James 4:6 (NLT) God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

I learned a great deal through challenges presented to me through the Raggers program. One such lesson is repeated over and over in the program: I would be giving and forget the gift. It’s not about expecting something in return. I serve God as an act of love and obedience, not as an act of “networking”. Sure, we are surrounded by people who ‘volunteer’ for many good causes and give their hard earned dollars to charitable causes. But how many of those would still give if there wasn’t something in it for them? What if gifts were no longer tax deductible? What if no one cared about your service in your community when reviewing your resume?

Jesus said in John 14:21 (NLT) that His followers will show their love by obeying Him. It’s about commitment and conduct.

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.

The Ragger Program taught me a wonderful lesson that I firmly believe: service to one’s fellowmen, in the spirit of Jesus Christ, is man’s highest calling. 

Yield to God’s will and pray for Him to reveal to you how you can be the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus Christ through selfless acts.

Let us be truly selfless and love God and joyfully serve Him.


"His faithful love endures forever."

Until next time...

Chaplain Gray