I do such stupid things sometimes. When it happens it’s because I am putting myself first and not thinking of others. I told someone I would meet with him, and then I cancelled because I was busy. I left a message but he didn’t get it. I really could have met with him - but I didn’t think I could spare the time. I felt really bad when he showed up and I wasn’t there. I was just thinking of my own needs and not putting the needs of my friend first.
The Urantia Book makes this remarkable statement - the religion of Jesus is salvation from self, deliverance from the evils of creature isolation in time and in eternity (67.3). This is certainly different from what we hear in a Christian church. Those of us who are part of the Christian culture understand that Jesus came to save us from our sins. But this statement takes that message a step further. Jesus came to save us from selfishness, self-centeredness, self-focus and self-isolation. All of these contain elements of sin – but I can be selfish and still avoid sinning. It’s easy to avoid doing wrong. Jesus came to save us from the avoidance of doing right.
Strong characters are not derived from not doing wrong but rather from actually doing right. Unselfishness is the badge of human greatness. The highest levels of self-realization are attained by worship and service. The happy and effective person is motivated, not by fear of wrongdoing, but by love of right doing (1572.6). I’m sure you are familiar with this statement from the section that includes the Beatitudes. It’s one of my favorite sections of the book. It focuses us on the real mission of Jesus – loving God and loving people. Unselfish service – loving and caring for the people God has placed in our path – is an essential part of this mission. Jesus came to the earth to tell us how important it is for our spiritual and personal development to serve others. But Jesus didn’t just tell us this, he showed us it as well. And he capped an exclamation point on an amazing life of service by allowing himself to be tortured and executed. He did this to show how far God is willing to go to gather every creature in a vast and diverse universe into a caring and supportive universal family. Jesus lived a life of doing right in order to pull us away from living lives of doing only for ourselves.
Not that it’s easy, mind you. I can’t believe some of the bone-headed selfish decisions I have made over the years. And I know better – think of all of the people who don’t. Ah well, Jesus didn’t say it would be easy. I continue to strive for a better understanding of what salvation from self means. I continue to strive to be more like Jesus.
God bless you,
William Whitehead
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