Altruism

Single word descriptions of Christianity are difficult. Few adjectives accurately describe the walk of faith exemplified by the follower of Christ. However the word “altruistic” probably comes as close as any.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines “altruistic” as “the unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.” What better definition of “taking death to self” so that one might be “all things to all people.” Words closely associated with Altruistic are: selfless, self-sacrificing; bounteous, bountiful, free, freehanded, generous, great-hearted, handsome, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, unselfish, unsparing; and compassionate.

On the other hand antonyms for Altruistic are not very complementary. These antonyms certainly should never be used to describe those who name Christ as Lord. Words such as: self-indulgent, self-seeking; cheap, closefisted, miserly, parsimonious, stingy, tight, tightfisted; hardhearted, pitiless, unfeeling, self-centered, and selfish should never be apt descriptions of Believers.

Although we seem to be entering a time of belt-tightening, we still live in an age of plenty, I fear many of us who claim Christ as Lord would be more adequately described by the antonyms than the synonyms. Never has the Church of Our Dear Lord been better equipped to take the Gospel throughout the world. Never have the financial resources been more plentiful, and never has the expertise to accomplish the task been more available. Yet, while untold millions of dollars are spent to provide more beautiful, comfortable, and technologically advanced buildings; thousands of churches struggle with a lack of staff and qualified leadership.

If we really want God’s best for our lives, it seems to me that we should practice living more simply, and expending more and more of the vast resources God has provided to give ourselves to His service in reaching the world for Christ.