Week 26: June 26, 2016

Topic: Selfishness – Part 1

Bible Reading: Philippians 2: 1-11

Introduction

Selfishness is what is worrying the world and it is putting people’s lives in disarray. Selfishness is plaguing mankind and it is spreading at an alarming rate causing bitterness, sorrow, hatred, tears, etc. Every unpleasant thing that is happening to human race and those things that are making their lives unbearable can be traced to (and linked to) selfishness.

Selfish ambitions have eaten into the fabric of our societies to the extent that it is destabilizing the nations of the world. If mankind can eradicate selfish ambitions, then this world will be a better place to live.

Selfish people are self-centered individuals who always take action that benefits them, but detrimental to their community. They care only about themselves and careless about others, in as much as the outcome of their action will result in gain that shall accrue to them.

Perils of Selfishness

Risk of missing the Kingdom of God: According to the Bible, selfish ambitions is among the works of the flesh, which can hinder your journey to the Glorious Home; it can wipe-off your good works and destroy your relationship with God.

Since it is evident that selfishness is a great sin, then walk in spirit at all times according to the confession of your faith. Let no trace of selfishness be found in you in order not to fulfill the lusts of flesh Galatians 5: 18-21.

Be filled and directed by the spirit, so that you will not be under the law. Do not follow the desires of your sinful nature like selfish ambition that can make it impossible for you to inherit the kingdom of God.

Consider your future or latter end: Every believer must consider their future and where they will spend their eternal rest. Therefore, pray to God to reveal to you what damage selfishness can cause. By doing this, you will be wise and understand that selfish ambition is like a cancer that can destroy your whole body which is the temple of the Lord. Deuteronomy 32: 29. I pray and hope that you will consider your latter end whereby the reality of the fate that awaits every soul who has selfish ambition will dawn on you.

Risk of hell fire: Selfishness is a severe sin that can make anyone with selfish ambition to end their spiritual journey in Satan’s camp. Any soul that is selfish belongs to the Devil, but those people that are considerate belongs to God.

When leaders of a nation are selfish, they will not take care of the poor/masses in their country; such nation shall witness corruption, fraud and deceit of high degree. The country will never know peace, but anarchy and chaos shall reign in such region. People of such nation will emulate their leaders, sins and lawlessness shall multiply because everyone will be after their interest instead of the interest of the country. Then the passage of the Bible will be fulfilled which stated that “the wicked will go to hell, together with the nations that forget/ignore God”

Psalm 9:17. I pray that Satan will not destroy our aged sincere efforts through selfish ambition.

Teachings on Selfishness

Selfish people are greedy: The Bible described the selfish people as greedy dogs which never have enough; they are like shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way. Everyone for his own gain Isaiah 56: 11. Every soul that always follow their own path with intention of personal gain is selfish. Such people lack understanding of the Word of God and they should desist from such behaviour. From this time forth, they must always seek/pursue whatever that will benefit their community/state/nation.

Selfishness is not acceptable to God: Whatever that is done through selfish ambition is not acceptable to the Lord. Do not let selfishness or pride be your guide whenever you are taking any action. Therefore nothing must be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind and esteem others better than yourself Philippians 2: 3. Brethren, don’t be selfish, don’t try to impress others, humble yourself and think of others as if they are better than you. Do not be motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, but emulate Jesus Christ in humility and meekness.

Beware of selfish preachers: Majority of the preachers/teachers/pastors in the world today are preaching or doing the work of God for their selfish gain. God did not call many of them, but joblessness/greediness/selfish ambition makes them to become pastors/shepherds/servant of God. Paul Apostle mentioned people like this in the Bible “Some preach Christ from envy and strife while others do it from goodwill. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains” Philippians 1: 15-16. Be careful so that those who preach Christ for selfish ambition will not put you in bondage because there is nothing they cannot do to realize their selfish ambition.

Remember being a pastor/preacher/teacher does not mean that they are on the right track. It is for this reason that Jesus Christ advised that “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” Matthew 7: 21. For the mere fact that they are preaching Christ does not mean they will enter the glorious home, therefore, heed the warning of your Savior and be on your guard.

No one can deceive God: Remember you can only deceive humans, but not God. He knows the selfish people and sees their wickedness. At the appropriate/appointed time, He will surely consider their selfishness when making His decision Job 11: 11. Since we know that God recognizes the deceivers, He is taking notes of their sins and He will look into their activities to repay them. Therefore, turn a new leaf and be selfless.

Be ready for the Bridegroom: Christians must be prepared for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must renounce every form of selfishness, then desert the Devil and his works. In like manners, Paul told the Corinthians to be ready for His coming, be ready for the return of the Lord 2 Corinthians 12: 20. When Jesus returns, will He find selfishness and other vices in your life?

You will give account of your stewardship: Whether we like it or not, either we believe it or not. Let it be in our minds that we are created from dust and we will certainly turn back to dust. One day we shall be called to the judgment throne to give account of our stewardship (what we did during our lifetime). As the Bible stated “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”.

Hebrews 9: 27. What are we going to say on this particular day if we do not desist from selfishness and other vices?

Week 27: July 3, 2016

Topic: Selfishness – Part 2

Bible Reading: Philippians 2: 1-11

Caution/Warning about Selfishness

The Lord so much loved us, that He cautioned us regarding selfishness in several passages of the books in the Bible; some of which we will discuss in detail during the course of this study.

Selfishness breeds Oppression: The preacher said “I looked and saw all the oppression that is taking place under the sun, I saw the tears of the oppressed and they have no comforter, whereas power and authority were on the side of the oppressors while the oppressed have no one to defend them” Ecclesiastes 4: 1. What the preacher observed many years ago are very rampant in the world today. In fact, the situation now is very dire. Humans are cheating, exploiting, and oppressing one another because of selfish ambitions. Selfishness is making people to be oppressed everywhere under the sky; the lives of the oppressed were wrecked and they are constantly in tears with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power while their victims are helpless.

Consider your way: Almighty God is warning the selfish and wicked people to consider their way. He wants them to repent and reconcile with Him before the repentance period passes away. He is aware of the pains, suffering and sorrow caused by their selfish ambitions so His desire is for them to stop this evil behaviour Haggai 1: 5, 7. It is because of the severity of the situation that made God to warn repeatedly, so eradicate selfishness completely from your life.

Selfish toil is vanity: The preacher stated that “he observed that all toil and every skillful work that leads to achievements, a man is envied by his neighbour. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind” Ecclesiastes 4: 4. Do not misunderstand this passage; it is good to be ambitious because people are motivated to success through their ambition. But selfish ambition is what is bad and it is vanity of this world.

Ignorance is no defense: Please understand today that selfishness is against the WILL of God; hence you cannot claim that you are ignorant of the sin. God who evaluates hearts knows what is in your mind and He will render to you according to your selfish ambitions Proverbs 24: 12. Listen, you cannot excuse yourself by saying “I didn’t know” because, God understands all hearts. He who guards your soul knows you knew that selfishness is evil, therefore He will repay you as your actions deserve (according to your actions).

People forsake Christ: Currently, humans neither seek things which are Christ Jesus nor heavenly/spiritual gifts, but they are seeking their own interest which is vanity of this world. Philippians 2: 21. Henceforth, stop being self-centered by thinking of yourself all the time instead of Jesus Christ your Saviour and Redeemer. Erase the trait of selfishness that is making you to care only for yourself and not what matters to Jesus Christ.

Perilous Time: Paul apostle warned that in the last days perilous times will come, whereby people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters … 2 Timothy 3: 1-5. We are at the end time, be on your guard so that Satan will not use any of the vices mentioned in the passage, most especially selfishness to lure you away from the righteous path.

Steps to Overcome Selfishness

Example laid by Christ: Since Jesus died for the sins and redemption of mankind, then those of us who are alive should no longer live for our selfish ambitions, but for Him who died for us 2 Corinthians 5: 15. If you want to resurrect with Christ, abstain from selfish ambition and put other people before yourself in whatever you do.

Watch out: Always look out not only for your interests, but also for the interest of others Philippians 2: 4. Make sure you always watch out and protect the interests of other people in whatever post/position you may occupy.

Be concern about others’ well-being: Do not work for your own good alone, but you must be there for others. Do not seek your own alone, but seek the well-being of others too 1 Corinthians 10: 24. You must be considerate at all times; any decision/plan that you are taking must not have negative impact on others. Your action must not benefit you alone, but others too.

Assist the weak: Make sure that you always help those that are weak in faith, and assist their financial/spiritual/health weaknesses. You must not live to please yourself, but to please God and every Christ-like people Romans 15: 1. The best way to conquer selfishness is for you not to neglect the weak people, be sensitive to their plights and be considerate to help them.

Proving your righteousness: Since the wicked/selfish people don’t care about the poor, one of the ways to prove your righteousness, so that it will be visible that you are not selfish, is by considering the cause of the poor Proverbs 29: 7 prove that you are kind by caring about justice for the poor; prove that you are benevolent by being concern about the rights of the less privileged. These actions will differentiate you from the wicked people who have no concern for the poor.

Fulfill the royal law: Whenever you love your neighbour as yourself, you are fulfilling the royal Law of the Lord and you are erasing any trace of selfishness in your life. James 2: 8 Any soul who wants to do well must shun selfishness and love everyone like themselves.

Reward of Selflessness

Blessed is he who considers the poor. The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble Psalm 41: 1. If you want the blessings of Abraham to manifest in your life, and be happy/joyful throughout your life time, then do not be selfish but start caring about the needy/poor. Be kind to them so that the Lord will rescue you when you are in trouble.

Finally let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works Hebrews 10: 24. Start thinking from this moment of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

The Seal: Romans 13: 8

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.