Respectable Selfishness

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"No indulgence of passion destroys the spiritual nature so
much as respectable selfishness."
George MacDonald (1824-1905)

"Respectable Selfishness", me thinks, is the perfect label for that oh so typical ailment shared with myself and other well-meaning, fairly decent, "good people". We help out at soup kitchens (if we aren't busy), we donate money to the poor (after we've planned our entertainment budget), we will even drive a friend to the airport (if we happen to be heading that way) . . . .in fact we will pretty much do, or give, anything to anyone . . . as long as it's "convenient".

Me also thinks that "Convenient Charity" could easily be swapped out for "Respectable Selfishness", in the MacDonald quote, for if we give of ourselves only what is surplus, are we truly loving with the sacrificial love of the Son who we say we want to imitate?

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others"
-- Philippians 2:4

True J.O.Y.
1-Jesus
2-Others
3-Yourself
(thanks to Father Larry)

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