People everywhere are looking for a tranquil trouble free life.  What is it that can bring a sense of inner peace with man?  This and following articles are designed to help us reason through things we need to do in our lives to make them as trouble free as possible.  Many people look for peace in their lives, turning in many different directions.  It seems so hard to find the thing that is going to bring peace and happiness into our lives.  Even those who turn to God often feel a void in their lives.  Why is this?  Because people do not know how or where to focus their attention.  Everyone will face challenges in their lives but we often make our lives more difficult than they need to be.  As you read this article and those to come, please keep an open mind.  Think sincerely about your life and be honest about changes that you may need to make to have a trouble free life.

The Problem

We will start these articles with the topic of selflessness.  Why?  Because it is a subject that touches all of us and is a very difficult personal challenge to overcome.  The very fact that people are searching for peace for themselves establishes the that man is generally selfish in nature.  Think about the things that people try to do in order to find happiness.  Things such as, making more money, playing sports, buying expensive toys, having children, finding the perfect mate.  These things are all done to to satisfy one's self.  Does it work?  Maybe temporarily but the satisfaction quickly wears away.  Jesus, no doubt, knew this when he said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:" (Matthew 6:19 KJVR).  Have you ever known a person or a family who seemed to have everything yet were still unhappy?  We seem to have a talent for having and doing so much that we make ourselves miserable in the process.  The American way of life is often full of excess and gluttonous living.  The simple truth is, doing anything for a self serving purpose will only bring about temporary happiness (if any).

The Remedy

True happiness in life is found in serving others.  Luke records the words of Christ saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35 KJVR).  This is a teaching that people are familiar with but we find it is often hard to practice.  However, when we do take the time to help someone we find that there is a true good feeling that overcomes us.  Not a feeling of arrogance or superiority but of true happiness and love.  Notice what Philippians says:

Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves. Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. Have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus: In God's own form existed he, And shared with God equality, Deemed nothing needed grasping. Instead, poured out in emptiness, A servant's form did he possess, A mortal man becoming. In human form he chose to be, And lived in all humility, Death on a cross obeying. Now lifted up by God to heaven, A name above all others given, This matchless name possessing. (Philippians 2:3-9 ISV)

I'm using the International Standard Version for this passage because it uses the words "selfish ambition".  This really should send a message to us.  How often are we working and striving out of our own ambitions?  We have to take care of ourselves and our families but we should be thinking about our spiritual brothers and sisters, our secular families, our neighbors, our co-workers and others. When it comes to furthering our own purposes or helping others, we should choose the later.  Notice how the passage draws Christ and his life into the equation.  There is not a better example of selflessness.  Christ spent his life on this earth working, teaching and healing for the benefit of others.  His purpose was clearly not to live a self serving life.  There are too many examples to begin to enumerate in this article but I encourage you to study the life of Christ.

How to get started?  Take a look around you and observe the needs of others.  You don't have to think big.  Many times it is the small things that people appreciate.  Perhaps your wife needs help with the dishes or your neighbor could use a hand shoveling the snow from his driveway.  It could be that your husband needs a hug or a word of encouragement.  Your children might need a little extra attention with school work.  Your parents might enjoy talking to you on the phone from time to time.  The Bible instructs us to find things to do and then to give our all to them, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." (Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJVR).  Simply put, there are lots of ways that we can help others.  All we need to do is to curb our selfish behavior long enough to see the opportunities.

Also, studying about selflessness is a good way to help prompt us to practice selflessness in our lives.  Study the following passages on your own.

• The good Samaritan - Luke 10:30-37
• The widow who gave two mites - Mark 12:41-44
• Jesus washes the apostles fees - John 13:4-17

Conclusion

I hope that this article is helpful to you.  The main thing to understand is that true happiness comes through helping others.  Article II. of "Steps to a Trouble Free LIfe" will be regarding contentment and will follow closely with some the thought expressed about selfishness.  I encourage you to continue reading as these articles become available.