Agape Love - Self(-Seeking) Destruct

The hardest parts of working on a team is people. I've been a part of so many teams, committees, ministries, crews, groups, etc. and I have learned many things about how it's going to go just by looking at the people around me and how receptive they are to new ideas. I've also learned how it's going to go by how receptive I am to new ideas. I've been a part of teams that thrive and move in powerful ways because every person on the team knew how to set aside something they found valuable for the greater good of the mission/project. I've also been in groups that were just painful because no one listened to anything except their own words and ideas and the group went absolutely nowhere, and was frankly a train wreck that looked horrible once rubber met the road. The success or failure of these two types of groups stemmed from the next characteristic of agape love, which is "love...is not self-seeking". 

Not only does this character trait of agape affect teams, but it affects your life and your relationships on a very personal level. From social media rants to your marriage, selfishness is a poison that needs to be kept in check. There are many things we need to remember as we approach working with other people, whether we are face to face with them, through screens, or on teams so that the relationships can thrive best. As we look deeper at this concept of love not being self-seeking, we'll discover that many of the other traits we've talked about will come into play, as they all work together to form the perfect love of agape. 

One way we need to keep self-seeking in check is by setting aside our own opinions, ideas, traditions, etc. so that we can allow those who aren't from your world to see more clearly. It seems counter-intuitive. After all, why would you not share those things to help them understand more clearly. But we need to remember that good things, while truth-filled, can actually end up being stumbling blocks for those new to the whole idea of faith or the idea of whatever group/team you're apart of. We tend to blast people who aren't in tune with Christian customs or the ways of the group, and that causes much more damage than you could ever imagine.

Parts of Romans 14 says,
"Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters...for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand...For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us doe for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord...You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgement seat...Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister...For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God."

Next, remember to ask God for His opinion. I think we spend a lot of time planning, formulating ideas and thoughts and opinions, and while they "sound" good or seem right, we don't actually always stop and ask God to tell us His thoughts in that moment. We may look up a verse that "agrees" with our point, but we don't necessarily look at the entire context of the Word, thus we make the verse "fit" our point, which is self-seeking. If we really wanted God's approval on things, we go to Him first, in prayer, in quietness, in word (as a whole), and in the consultation of other wise followers of His.

We set aside worldly "rights" and "opinions" for the greater good of the heavenly kingdom. I think lately our world (maybe just our country) has become so wrapped up in what are my "rights" and standing up for them, that we forget that earthly rights are worth nothing in an eternal perspective. These formulated "rights" may sound good and fair and seem, well, right, but those too can be a very blinding perspective of self-seeking love.

Galatians 5:13-15 states
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." 

Don't always look to your best interest in this world or your rights, because those will fall eventually, and won't matter. The best thing you can do for yourself and for others is to share a Hope that is immovable, and a love that will start someone in the process of seeing something greater, more powerful, stronger, more lasting than anything else in this world can offer them. Look beyond tomorrow and what this world has to offer for you, and look ahead to an eternity and what needs to happen to get people needing that hope there. Our self-seeking will hinder these things if we are not careful.

Scripture to Read:
Romans 14, Luke 10:25-37

Questions to Ponder:
How can doing "good things" end up not being that good after all for others around you that you interact with?
What are some ways our thinking we're doing good things for Christ actually be a stumbling block or a "push away" to others?
What are some practical ways you can show selfless love to someone this week?