Self-fulfillment vs Self-sacrifice

We live in a world with a self-fulfillment mentality, and an unfulfilled life is a wasted life, or at least a tragedy. All of us fall into the trap of this thinking, and I say trap because this is NOT Christian thinking. I see the miseries of this thinking in elderly people who feel that their debilitated condition has rendered them useless, unwanted, unneeded, and a burden: in middle aged people who feel that their lives are slipping away from them and they have not been able to fulfill their dreams in meaningful ways; in young people who selfishly pursue their interests with disregard, and disrespect of those around them.

The life of Christ, and the saints displayed nothing with regard to any modern notion of self-fulfillment. Indeed just the opposite: self-sacrifice. I like to say, “No life, or act given in selfless love is a waste.” I think of all those people who sacrificed the ‘best’ years of their lives to care for a disabled child, or a bedridden relative. No self-fulfillment there. No self-fulfillment in Jesus going to the cross, or the martyrdom of saints and missionaries of days gone by. No self-fulfillment in loving your enemies or turning the other cheek. No self-fulfillment in giving until it hurts, or being a servant to others. The false dream of self-fulfillment thinking leads to frustration with others who are interfering with our dreams which leads to our impatience, intolerance, bitterness, regret, and despair.

There is much that could be said here but I think we Christians need to transform our own thinking to that of Christ and the ancient witness of the Church. We need to embrace the ways of humility and self-sacrifice. I believe this can only be done with the Spirit of Christ being our daily guide, and through intense, intentional prayer.

Blessed LORD, who putteth down the mighty from their seat and exaltest those of low degree: Save us, we beseech Thee, from pride and vainglory, from self-seeking and false ambition. Give us a humble and contrite spirit, that we may think less of ourselves, more of others, and most of all of Thee, who art our mighty God and Saviour; to whom with Thee and the Holy Spirit we ascribe all praise and glory, now and for evermore. AMEN (A prayer by Frank Colquhoun)

LORD have Mercy, Brian+