By Danny Minton

Almost everyone who reads this has probably seen the World War II movie, “The Bridge on the River Kwai.” We can’t resist whistling the song that the prisoners whistled together as they marched into the Japanese prisoner of war camp in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. We become close to the characters who live their lives amid day-to-day suffering, toiling to build a bridge, but mostly just to stay alive and keep their sanity.

However, there’s another story that takes place in that very camp. It’s a story of how one man changed the lives of the entire camp from one of despair and mistrust to one of love and care for your fellow man. It’s a story from an out-of-print book entitled “Through the Valley of the Kwai” by Ernest Gordon. (Also at Bible.org – Holy Sweat, Tim Hansel, 1987, Word Books Publisher, pp. 146-147).

It’s the story of a man named Angus McGillivray. Angus had died, and the news of the big, burly Scottish prisoner spread quickly around the camp. It was hard to believe that a man of his strength and stamina had died. What had happened? How did it happen? It was the answer to these questions that would change the camp atmosphere.

The camp was one of mistrust. Men would steal food and supplies from each other, trying their best to preserve their very being. Men had to sleep with their packs under their heads and would even then find them stolen the next morning. It was a “dog-eat-dog,” steal-and-cheat time.

To survive the camp, the men used a buddy system with each person’s buddy called his “mucker.” You were expected to stand by your “mucker” to encourage and help them to survive. It was the story of Angus and his “mucker” that became the answer to the questions of his death. Angus’ mucker had become ill, and Angus determined that his friend would not die. Angus’ “mucker’s” blanket was stolen, and Angus gave him his saying that he had found an extra one. When chow time came, Angus would take his food to his friend and tell him he had secured some extra food. He nursed him until he began to improve and gain strength.

Then one day, Angus collapsed and died. The doctor checked him out and came to a startling discovery. Angus had died of starvation and exhaustion. In the middle of a camp that was thinking primarily of self, Angus had given his life for his friend. 

The story changed the camp. Men began to help one another. They pooled their talents. Some made musical instruments and began to worship together, calling their church “The Church Without Walls.” The atmosphere of selfishness and mistrust changed to one where love abounded, all because one man had been selfless in giving himself for a friend. They started a university, a library, and a hospital. By sharing their resources and working together, they transformed their camp. In the end, even some of the guards began to attend the services of “The Church Without Walls.”

Selflessness is the key to a truly Christ-like church that grows. When we learn to put the interests of others ahead of our own, we begin to grow as true children of God. 

A “church” full of individuals who think their way is always the best, who get upset when things don’t proceed to their liking, and become stumbling blocks when things go contrary to their desires, will do nothing in the end but fail in the mission to take Christ to the world around us. True followers of Christ look beyond their personal desires and strive to recognize what is best for those around them.

Paul wrote to the Philippian church, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  (Phil. 2:3) In this passage, he is encouraging his readers to quit thinking solely of their own interests and keep everyone else’s in mind. It is only then that we are being true disciples of the Savior. 

The death of Angus, one man who was selfless and willing to die to save his friend, ultimately changed and saved the camp. In the same way, a selfless Christian can help change a congregation, a selfless congregation can change a city, and a selfless city can change a nation, and it all started by a selfless individual who died on a cross over 2,000 years ago.

(Bible.org – Holy Sweat, Tim Hansel, 1987, Word Books Publisher, pp. 146-147)

“Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28

Danny Minton, a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ, is a hospital chaplain