Selfless versus Selfish
Rob and I sit on the front porch every morning to drink our coffee/tea. We have this wonderful bird feeder that brings in a variety of birds…and squirrels. The neat thing about it is that when a squirrel tries to eat from it, its weight closes the access to the bird seed inside the feeder. They still have access to the food that gets dropped by the other birds, but the majority of it is saved for the birds to eat since they lightly land on the feeder and don’t close the access to the bird seed. That is, they don’t usually close the access to the bird seed. In recent days, we have been visited by a large flock of starlings. Sometimes as many as 10-12 at a time. The Starlings are a bit larger than many of the other birds that grace us with their presence, and in larger numbers they all try to pile on the feeder at the same time. When they do, the access to the bird seed gets closed and they start fighting with each other to see who gets the bird seed. When only one or two are left, the others having left in frustration, the feeder becomes light enough again that they can access the bird seed. All they need to do for all of them to get the seed is to be patient and wait their turn. If they were more selfless, they would get their food. By being selfish and fighting with their fellow birds for the seed, the majority of them end up missing a meal. What a great illustration of the benefit of being selfless versus selfish. It is not about choosing to be selfless for your interest, but about being humble and valuing others above self. In doing so, the rewards often go above anything you could have gained while acting selfishly. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV).
Rob shared another similar example of when crabs are placed in a bucket. A crab on its own can climb and claw its way out of the bucket, but when in a group, the other crabs try to do the same and they all end up pulling each other down with none gaining their freedom. Yet another example where selfish behavior negatively impacts all contrary to if they would simply be patient and wait their turn to save all of them. Being selfless and humble results in greater benefit that could ever be gained alone. The individual crab would not only save themselves, but all other in the bucket with them. Isn’t that a better ending to the story?
Selfless behavior not only benefits those that value above self, the personal rewards are immeasurable. Have you ever noticed when you do something kind for others that you feel happier? Brain chemicals are released from these selfless acts that provide a reward to you, not just those you are helping. Have you also noticed that once you start being selfless you have the desire to do it more and more and oftentimes, others seek to emulate your behavior and it becomes contagious as they see the joy it brings you? Why wouldn’t you choose to be selfless over selfish?
Today, I pray that you learn from the behaviors of the starlings and crabs, go be selfless!
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