In the ingenious novel of Ilf and Petrov “12 Chairs” there is a very colorful character - grief-father, pop Fedor Vostrikov. Having learned about the treasures of Madame Petukhova, he set out to get ahead of the legitimate heir Ippolit Matveevich Vorobyaninov (Kissu). Father Fyodor concealed his far from Christian goals by one outstanding phrase, which had long since become independent: “Not for selfishness, but by the will of the wife who sent me!”
Self-serving and selfless
What is self-interest? Greed, profit, pursuit of one’s interests to the detriment of other people. And if a person is selfless? This is a completely different moral category. As a rule, the main character trait of such individuals is altruism. Everything that they do for someone, they perform diligently, in good faith, not at all for show. The main thing is that a person does not demand and does not expect any gratitude and payment for his good deeds when he is selfless. This distinguishes him from those who also help, but for the money.
Kindness reward
No matter how strange it may sound, however, there was also a fee for selflessness. More precisely, the reward. As early as the first quarter of the 19th century (1824), Russian Emperor Alexander I instituted a corresponding medal. They cast it from silver, and decorated their regalia with their own imperial profile.
Over the history of the existence of a medal, only one person has been awarded with it, that is, in the eyes of the state he was selfless. It was a certain Khovrin, a non-commissioned officer from Nizhny Novgorod. He caught a robber who stole a very large sum at that time - eighteen thousand four hundred rubles, and returned everything to a penny to the victim - a major named Koltovsky. And then it was decided that Khovrin was disinterested. This was recorded in the annals of history, handing a distinguished new medal.
Vow of non-possessiveness
Lack of money, non-possessiveness are considered the most important qualities of true Christians. Jesus is the clearest example of such ideal behavior. A disinterested person will never strive for hoarding, does not seek wealth, he does not tend to greed and love of money. This is exactly how the once-monks, fools, and wanderers behaved. They knew how to be
content with the small, or rather, the most necessary. Spent time in fasting and prayer. Selflessness is a necessary component for establishing harmonious relations between members of society, citizens of the state. After all, the basis of selflessness is love for people, relatives and strangers. And also generosity, modesty, mercy. On this occasion, I again want to recall the words of Christ. Preaching, he pointed out that it is not enough to be kind to members of your family, to forgive them, to provide help. Indeed, sinners do the same! But truly disinterested is the one who helps outsiders, responds to someone else's misfortune, does charity work. In the same range of spiritual values is selfless friendship.
Manifestation of selflessness
When exactly can we say that someone acted disinterestedly? What is expressed in this quality, in what specific situations is manifested? For example, in refusing gifts, offerings. Sometimes even a harmless bouquet of flowers can be an attempt to pay for a good deed. It seems a trifle, why not accept? But then all selflessness is completely erased! The fact of the matter is that it does not at all assume and does not accept any, absolutely no transactions and payments.
Selflessness is consistent with the complete rejection of honors and rewards, the manifestation of goodwill and courtesy in response to outright rudeness and rudeness. Love without reciprocity, without hope for it, is also disinterested, as is friendship with people “just like that”, without any calculation to take advantage of their disposition, influence, money, help, etc. Selfless people are the righteous on whom our world still rests.