When I was a teenager, I remember living in a humble rented house in a suburban area, far away from the city. My father served as a Bible teacher with a small salary, and my mother was a homemaker. So, with only one income, our family’s financial condition was quite tight. Luckily, at the back of our house, there was a plot of land where my father planted some vegetables. It helped a lot with providing nutritious foods for our family.
One hot day I saw my father planting a mango seed. I knew that mango trees take a long time to bear fruit; to go from seedlings to full crop production can take up to 15 years. So, I said to him, “Dad, why did you plant a mango seed? We frequently move from time to time and from town to town, and I bet we won’t be around when the seed bears fruit. I’m absolutely sure that you won’t be able to enjoy the fruit of your labor; it’s truly a worthless effort.” My father looked straight into my eyes and said, “The work I do today won’t show any results for several years, but the mango we enjoyed yesterday was possible only because of the people who planted a mango seed many years ago. So, in like manner, planting this mango seed today will let others enjoy it later. I don’t mind at all doing it; it will be worth it in time.”
My father had an attitude of caring about others; he willingly did acts for other people even though he received no personal benefit. That is ALTRUISM, a selfless effort for the interests of others. He did the right thing, even though he knew he himself would not enjoy the benefits, but that others will surely reap them in time.
William Gladstone, the prime minister of the United Kingdom who served from 1868 through 1894, announced the death of Princess Alice in 1878 to the House of Commons. He told this touching story about Princess Alice: “The little daughter of Princess Alice was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her daughter because by kissing her, she would endanger her own life as she would breathe in the child’s breath. Once, when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, “Momma, kiss me.” Without thinking of herself, Princess Alice tenderly kissed her daughter, and as a result, she contracted diphtheria herself and died after some days. “Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn’t count the cost.” That is ALTRUISTIC LOVE: https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/61503/the-liberal-prime-minister-william-gladstone-by-sermoncentral.
Jesus Christ, Himself showed the great manifestation of ALTRUISM. Matthew 20:28 says, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (KJV). Jesus is our finest example; His unselfish ways, graciously giving His life for our salvation, is a perfect standard of true ALTRUISM, which we are called to develop and put into practice.
Generosity, compassion, a desire to help, a self-sacrificing spirit, and unselfishness are some of the attributes that a true steward must have. As God’s stewards, we should have ALTRUISTIC love in our hearts; we should be the epitome of the basic Christian principle referred to in 1 John 4:11, 12, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” (KJV). What a reflection!
Hiskia Missah
Editor
