The Selfishness that hinders us from being empowered to do | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Selfishness that hinders us from being empowered to do | Previous Challenge Entry
By Frank P. Martinez Jr.
02/14/05
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When you and I come to a point in our spiritual maturity in which we are able to maintain an attitude of humility and in turn keep ourselves from becoming too self involved it is wonderful in the eyes of the Lord. It is a constant reminder to every individual that we encounter that the Lord is responsible for who we are in Jesus Christ. As it is today there are far to many of us a displaying an attitude of selfishness and it is indeed causing us far greater pain in our spiritual lifestyle. The word selfishness is defined as: “concerned only or primarily with oneself without regard for others.” Why would or should we be so concerned about ourselves that we forget to express love toward another human being? Furthermore, we are not realizing the origin of what we look at in the mirror on a daily basis and the fact that what resides within us came from God. The bible states; “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7).” So to see things clearly it must be articulated that our bodies are nothing more than the dust of the ground. On the other hand, it is fair to say that what is within our bodies is something to be proud of but our knowledge of it can only come from God since he placed it there to begin with. So what exactly is there to be selfish about since we all came from the same place? You and I must continue to display an attitude of humility whenever the occasion rises to express selfishness. We should place others needs above our own and by this those outside the family of believers will know that we are children of the most high God. The bible states: “Let no one seek his own, but each one the others well-being (1 Corinthians 10:24).” Selfishness should never be conveyed in your life and mine, it causes us to separate from God in that connection, which empowers us to do all that the Lord, has set before us to do.

It is fair to say that selfishness stems from pride it is not a quality that God had in store for us to parade in front of others. To deal with selfishness, one must deal with pride first as it is the mother (in a symbolic way) of our subject. In mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes this about pride: “There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. And at the same time I have very seldom met anyone, who was not a Christian, who showed the slightest mercy to it in others. There is no fault, which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault, which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it in ourselves the more we dislike it in others.” If you and I examine ourselves carefully we will find that we have displayed this unattractive characteristic. Which births itself in our mind, body and soul in many forms and one happens to be selfishness. Most people who find themselves being constantly left alone by those that were counted as friends have a selfishness problem.

So as I conclude this subject it is far more profitable to your walk with Christ for you to tend to others instead. Let your needs become of less importance for you and I were put forth to help others in need. Especially, Jesus Christ who set aside his royalty and took on the role of a servant showed his unselfishness by dying on a cross for one and all. I plead with you that selfishness be set-aside in your life in order that you may receive and accomplish that which Jesus Christ has set before you.

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