We Can Always Do More

Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 February 2010 13:30 Written by Claudio Friday, 22 January 2010 23:13

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

- Jesus

We like to talk about the problems and what needs to be done, but when the opportunity to do something comes up we suddenly become reluctant. We like to say things like "I'm doing a lot at the moment... I can't really do anything else" or "I'm doing all I can".

We deceive ourselves and invent good enough excuses because we love our lives more than theirs (whoever these might be). We care more for our own lives, our own families, our own communities. And we can make the group bigger but ultimately is still a selfish care. At some point my action returns to me... let me explain:
I might give a hand to my friend cause he is part of my life. What happens to him probably affects me too. I might give money to a good cause in my church, cause what happens in my church also might affect me. I pray for things that are related to me (at some point) but if it is something completely foreign to my own life I might pray once and struggle to persevere. So at the end my motivation to give or to do or even to pray is based on me and therefore it becomes a selfish motivation.

God is looking for people who would deny themselves, take their cross and follow. He is looking for people willing to give up everything they have, even their own lives!

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me. (John 12:24-26)

The people who listened to this words at the time they were spoken had a short-term view of life on earth... they understood that this life is short and embraced eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven instead.coming after this one it makes sense to live caring for ourselves.
But Jesus said "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-20).