1 Corinthians 3.1-3 observes, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I’ll nurse you since you don’t seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way?

Selfishness and self-centeredness are the signs of immaturity in the Christian life. Immaturity runs rampant in the Church. We are hard pressed not to find an overabundance of selfishness and self-centeredness among those who claim Jesus as Savior.

The proof of this reality is in our relationships with others. They are so broken, so few and so shallow. Deep relationships are the result of giving, of sacrifice, of serving one another. This is reflected in the best marriages, the best parent-child relationships and among those who truly have a very best friend.

We cannot be all about ourselves and expect our relationships to be deep and meaningful. The other person too is all about them-self and is not interested in being our cheerleader. The happiest person is the one whose relationships are deep and meaningful.

These relationships are acquired by placing the needs, wants and wishes of others first by doing whatever we can to love, serve and bless others. When we live this way, we will find a return on our investment such that we too become rich with relationships where people truly love us and care about us.

God spoke true when He said if we try and keep our lives we will lose them but if we lose our lives we will find them. Relationships are about giving not taking.