Actual Christianity

God / The Universe Constantly Throws Us Opportunities To Be Selfless

It’s no accident when you cross paths with someone who desperately needs help. These are excellent opportunities to practice selflessness, no longer putting yourself above others. Perhaps someone is desperately seeking a few dollars so they can get home on a bus, buy some gas, or simply afford a meal. Our ego’s instinct is to judge these people: “You’re the reason you’re in the position you’re in.” In essence, you’re automatically judging them as inferior while shrugging off the compassion and love of your neighbor that Jesus routinely taught his followers. These moments are not accidents. Do not let your ego’s destructive ideological beliefs get in the way of helping people.

Some may say, “You need to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, actually work, and fix your life,” while completely ignoring how someone ended up in that position. There are countless reasons why people can hit rock bottom, live on the streets, or go hungry, and we cannot assume the worst about their circumstances.

I know many of us have naturally skeptical, cynical, or weary minds. We may instinctively think, “I’m not sure whether what they’re asking for is genuine.” That’s a mistake I made in the past. I eventually realized that this, too, was a judgment of them. I had already concluded that they were dishonest and only looking out for themselves. Please don’t make the same mistake I did. What is most important is your willingness to help others in need, and those who have crossed paths with you are not mere accidents.

In the same way that God uses the universe to place opportunities before you to forgive others—allowing you to reflect on the times you’ve been just as guilty of what you’ve judged someone else for—you are also given opportunities to demonstrate selflessness and put others before yourself. These moments should not be squandered.

In my prior article, I explained that every insult or slight toward your ego is an opportunity to forgive and let it roll off your back. In the same way, every time you encounter someone living in poverty who genuinely needs help—especially if they are asking you for it—do not automatically turn them away. God may be using that moment to test your willingness to put your ego aside in order to love and care for another person.

Please abandon the toxic ideological beliefs that, in essence, have trained many Americans, including many Christians, to look right past someone asking for help. Those people crossing your path are not accidents. They are invitations to transcend your ego and its inherent selfishness. Carry some cash with you when you can. Even a small amount can go a long way toward helping someone who has nothing.

In short

• Helping others is an opportunity for spiritual growth.
• Giving your money to other demonstrates both a release of attachments to money and caring about your brothers and sisters and our unity
• This practices your ability to be selfless, empathetic, considerate and thoughtful towards others. Qualities that unfortunately have become less common place in the modern world.
• It’s an amazing efficient and sincere way to demonstrate you do not judge others. You demonstrate you are equals with them and do not see them as inferior to you. Instead you see them as equals which is what you want. Realizing your total unity and oneness with all other humans who are your brothers and sisters.
• Helping others brushes aside any judgment you have of them and how they hit that point of their life.
• The ego judges before it understands.
• Encounters with people are tests of character, spirituality and faith. See them as opportunities to demonstrate your commitment to this set of ideological principles that are ultimately benevolent.