A lot of Christians in my church have talked to me about the same subject
People accuse them of being selfish for trying to reach Heaven.
They say that they follow God’s Will simply for their own personal benefit.
Instead of becoming defensive, let’s try to stand from the accusers’ point of view.
Doing everything in our power to go to Heaven might seem like selfish behavior to atheists.
If our primary concern is our own salvation, then we are not living out Christ’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.
We might become so focused on ourselves that we neglect to show love and compassion to those around us who are also in need of God’s grace.
In this sense, trying to live forever can indeed be selfish.
But is that accusation fair?
From our perspective, the desire to reach Heaven is simply a natural response to the love and grace that God has bestowed upon us.
It is not about personal gain, but about living to serve and glorify God.
In that way, following God’s Will could be considered the ultimate expression of selflessness.
So, which is it? Is trying to reach Heaven selfish or selfless?
The answer, I believe, lies in the heart behind the motivation.
If our motivation is rooted in a deep love for God and a desire to support the less fortunate, then it’s pure and right.
We are seeking to align our will with God’s Will, not because we want to gain salvation or escape punishment, but because we want to grow closer to Him.
However, if our motivation is solely to escape hell or gain entry into heaven, then it is selfish.
We are reducing God to a means to an end, using Him as a tool to achieve our own ends rather than loving Him for who He is.
And that is not right.
That is why we have to be certain of our motivations before we try to glorify God.
Let us examine our hearts and our motives for following God’s will.
Let us seek to love God and others because of the goodness in our hearts, minds, and souls.
And let our desire to reach Heaven be rooted in that love.
What Scripture says about selflessness.
May God grant us the grace to follow Him with pure hearts and selfless motives.
The Christian Tech-Nerd 