presents
the "Let's Talk About" series
presents
Let's talk about BEING SELFISH.
The Bible says: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)
Have you ever been with a person who was eating something and would not share it with you?
Have you ever played with a person who would not share his or her toys with you?
People who do not share their things with others are SELFISH.
SELFISH people care only about themselves. They do not care about the thoughts and feelings of other people.
When you are with someone who is selfish—
how do you feel?
what do you think?
what do you do?
When you are with someone who is selfish—
you may feel left out, frustrated and angry;
you may think, "This person is not fun to be with";
you may choose not to play with the person.
It is important to treat other people the way you want to be treated.
If you want people to share their things with you, you will need to share your things with them.
You will need to be unselfish.
Being unselfish does not mean that you have to share all of your things all of the time.
If you have something to eat and there is not enough to share with the person you are with, put the food away.
Try not to eat food in front of a person who does not have anything to eat.
If you are going to share some food or anything else with another person, try to be as fair as possible.
Here is a good rule to follow when you are dividing something:
Let one person do the dividing and the other person do the choosing.
If you have something special that you do not want to share, do not use it in front of another person.
That is, unless—
the other person is content not to use it, or
the other person has something else to use.
You do not have to share your things with anyone who may lose or damage them.
Put your things away if you are afraid this might happen.
When you share your things, help the other person take care of them.
Show the person how to use your things in the right way.
Tell the person where to use your things.
If there is only one thing that must be shared by two or more people, be fair.
Take turns using it.
Let each person use it for an equal amount of time. Someone can count, or you can use a clock or timer to help keep track of the time.
If you want to be happy, you will treat other people the way you want to be treated.
This means you will not be selfish because you do not want other people around you to be selfish.
A Bible example of being SELFISH and NOT BEING SELFISH
Jesus once told a story about a man who walked down a certain road. Along the way, some robbers attacked him, took his robes, and beat him up, leaving him half dead.
A little later, a priest was going down that road but when he saw the injured man he decided to be selfish, and walked by on the other side.
Another man soon came along. He went over and looked at the injured man but then he too decided to be selfish, and walked on by on the other side.
Then a Samaritan who was traveling that way arrived on the scene. When he saw him, his heart was filled with pity. He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. "Take care of him," he told the innkeeper, "and when I come back this way, I will pay you whatever else you spend on him."
The man who was not selfish with his time and money has been famous ever since as the "Good Samaritan".
