Yes, missionaries can be selfish too. It is a problem that we all have. Although it may take different forms in different cultures, the basic selfishness is something a person is born with. No one teaches a small child to scream when he doesn’t get his way. He may be too young to talk or communicate much, but he can show everyone in hearing distance who he thinks is most important – himself. We are all childish in our motivations at times, although it begins to look more sophisticated and polished, being called more prestigious names. It may sound more like “promotion” than “me first!”, but he heart is still the same. I’m sure that businessmen dressed in suits still act like children sometimes as they climb over other people to establish their own will. This applies to more than just children and businessmen, though. It applies to missionaries and pastors and congregations, to you and me. It is perhaps never more apparent than in the context of our own families and our closest relationships. Countless marriages are discarded because of the selfishness of at least one of the parties involved. It is easy to become very ‘me’ focused and think that everything in life serves to make me happy and comfortable, so the things that don’t serve that end must be changed. Instead of letting hard things and conflicts within relationships challenge us to grow, we become angry and resentful that someone else is ruining our perfect life. Instead, should we not be looking for opportunities to encourage each other, considering each other and how we may spur one another on toward love and good works? (Heb 10:24) I don’t say this only because I observe other peoples’ problems, but because I see these things in myself and loathe them. And this was a decision I had to make when God was challenging me to take the gospel to unreached people. The task loomed huge and overwhelming. It spoke nothing of comfort, but of sacrifice, hard work, and mental exhaustion. It spoke of sickness, weakness, vulnerability, and fear. But no matter how much my flesh would rather seek comfort, I know that I am not my own, for I was bought with a price (2 Cor 6:20). Let us all endeavor by Christ’s strength and example to pursue selflessness in all our relationships, considering others better than ourselves (Phil 2:3). And there are still many who need to hear and understand the gospel. Can we sacrifice for them as well, realizing that we were bought when we were no better than they?
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AuthorWe are normal people who believe that God would have us serve Him in Brazil. We are saddened by the existence of people who do not have access to the gospel due to their location and language. We want to live among such a people group and plant a church among them, shepherding the believers as they grow to maturity. Archives
November 2019
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