2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them (NLT).
I love the story of Albert Schweitzer. He decided to enrol as a student in the medical school because he saw a vacancy for mission-minded doctors in Africa.
He was a graduate and a full grown adult who was done with schooling but for the sake of God's kingdom especially missions to the unreached, he returned to school to study medicine.
He was criticised but he went ahead to acquire the requisite knowledge he needed to fulfil his missionary calling.
There were many doctors in his days but he was a doctor with a kingdom purpose in mind. He chose to live for God's purpose.
When you take steps or plan with God's purpose in mind, that's when your existence starts counting in eternity.
In whose interest are you making that decision? Who will benefit eventually, you or the kingdom? We have to be careful of self-serving interest in our decision-making.
In 2 Corinthians 5:15 Paul explained one of the reasons for our salvation more saying: "He(Christ) died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them (NLT Emphasis mine).
The essence of your salvation is to stop living for your interest but for the interest of the one who called you into his marvelous light.
Paul was a man who could give adequate account on the purpose behind each of the step he took.
Jesus was also like that. He was known for one thing- serving the interest of the father. When the Jews wanted to make him a king, he rejected the offer because that wasn't in alignment with the father's interest.
Selfishness is eliminated from our lives the moment we start living to serve the master's insterest.
Father, I receive grace to live for you In Jesus name.