A survey commissioned by London City Mission a couple of years ago revealed that “76% of practicing Christians wished to talk more about their faith with non-Christians”. The data is clear, we want to do better, we want to share our faith and talk more naturally and more often about Jesus. I can completely identify with that. I want to talk about him more than I do.
When I read those survey results, it made me reflect on why I am sometimes reluctant to share my faith, and I’m afraid to say that one of the reasons is actually just selfishness. I like all the things that Christ brings to my life, such as forgiveness, love and joy and peace and security, a sense of his presence in times of trial and so many other blessings. But I worry that I’m sometimes just so selfish that I am content to keep them to myself and not share them with other people.
The gospel begins with God’s motivation for mission! “For God so loved the world that he sent his Son, that whoever believes in him won’t perish but have eternal life”. So I wonder if my lack of action represents a lack of love. Does that explain why you and I are sometimes less-than-extravagant in our sharing of the gospel? Sometimes we simply don’t love as we ought to, and we’re selfish enough to sit and enjoy the blessings of God without sharing them with other people.
The only antidote to that I know is to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us again and to make us more Christ-like. Only he can give us the power to overcome self-centredness and make us more closely resemble Christ who came for the lost, whose great heart broke over the state of the world.
Don’t we need to be a bit more like him and just a bit less selfish?
Prayer: Father God, I repent of selfishness and ask for your forgiveness and cleansing. Please fill me with your Spirit and create in me a clean heart, which overflows with generosity and shares the riches of Christ with the world.
