Selfishness is a ruthless taskmaster that sucks the joy from your life. Selfishness is being devoted to caring only for oneself, and being concerned primarily with one’s own interests, benefits, or welfare, regardless of others.
The words from the video clip stung, “I have been the most selfish person to ever live…” The next point in the pastor’s message was, “It’s Not About You.”
I suspected I may have an issue when half my family pointed at me and laughed. I know it’s not all about me, but what everyone fails to understand is – I want it to be!
Anyone there with me? The problem is, making it all about you requires us to exert a great deal of selfishness.
Selfishness is a dysfunctional family. It’s next of kin are greed, bitterness, anger, and depression. Living a life filled with selfishness is a fantastic way to be miserable.
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So how do we beat the selfishness that dwells within us?
I. Selfishness Flees When You Are Thankful
It is very difficult to be selfish and thankful at the same time. The next time you find yourself slipping into selfishness, try being thankful for something.
In addition, thankfulness is the Will of God.
I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
You must develop the habit of being thankful. One blogger recommended that you journal three things you are thankful for each morning during your devotion time. If you don’t have a quiet time you need to start one because selfishness is best fought with truth!
II. Selfishness Fades When You Serve Others
There is a trap in serving others – it is possible to serve selfishly. Serving others never needs a press release!
We can find glory and pride in serving others, especially if you tend to love being in the spotlight. It’s hard to swallow, but remember serving others is not about you… please don’t hate me, this is hard for me as well.
You need to look for a way of serving that will not benefit you in any way, other than the reward of serving others. Go scoop soup at the local homeless shelter, slip the homeless guy on the corner a cheeseburger, stay and help cleanup the church after everyone has gone home.
Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
Is it possible the cure for your selfishness is as simple as humility?
III. Selfishness Fails When You Kill The Monster
“Be careful or the green-eyed monster will get you!” Wise words spoken by my Mother-In-Law many years ago. When you set your eyes on something that someone else has whether it be success, possessions or status, that desire will quickly begin to work through your selfish nature and the monster begins to grow.
All selfishness wants from you is a little more regardless of the cost. Selfishness is never satisfied or content.
The Bible calls this consuming desire for more, covetousness and God knew it would be a big deal in your life which is why He made it one of the Big 10!
Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
The best weapon to fight the green-eyed monster is contentment. When we recognize and are satisfied with all that God has blessed us with, selfishness will not survive. Contentment is a byproducts of the thankfulness we talked about earlier.
How do you recognize and deal with selfishness? Share a comment below or share this post with someone who might benefit from it.