Without self-denial there is no community whether it is family, church, work or neighborhood. What happy families and churches those are where everybody has to have their own way! Certainly not! Without self giving there is no one to prepare the meals, set the table, clean the floor and arrange things nicely. Living in self-denial beats clawing for your own way and whining because you don’t get it.
“Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?” Luke 17:7-8 (NIV)
