Jesus was selfless to come to earth. He set the standard. He notices our selflessness and honors it. We look around and wonder why hunger exists or why our neighbors are struggling. We can get paralyzed by the needs around us, wondering why they exist and what impact we can possibly have, but figuring it out is God’s job, not ours. He understands. We simply need to respond and let God use our selflessness.

Jesus’ display of selflessness shows his love for us. He sets the standard. We cannot be selfless on our own. We must yield to Jesus, becoming like him and living his love out loud in order to be selfless as he intends. Jesus is God’s love lived out loud on earth. Our selfless obedience lives God’s love out loud in our communities. We live out God’s love by how we respond to Jesus’ selflessness.

The Son of Man will come again in his great glory, with all his angels. He will be King and sit on his great throne. All the nations of the world will be gathered before him, and he will separate them into two groups as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The Son of Man will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to the people on his right, “Come, my Father has given you his blessing. Receive the kingdom God has prepared for you since the world was made. I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”

Then the good people will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?”

Then the King will answer, “I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.” (Matthew 25:31-40)

When our selflessness is like Jesus’ and is rooted in God’s love, we have purpose. We are fulfilled. Jesus fulfills us. His selflessness gives us purpose.