Have you ever observed how opposite God’s instructions to us are from the wisdom of the world?  The world says, “live it up,” God says, “exercise self-control.”  The world says, “take your revenge,” God says, “love your enemies.”  The world says, “be first,” God says, “put others before yourself.”  There are so many more examples we could share.  Christian living is almost always exactly the antithesis of what the world values.

This is particularly evident when we look at how God tells us to live for others and not ourselves.  Selfishness is so easy.  Self-preservation and gratification seems to be hard-wired into our human makeup.  In fact, self-centered thinking is powerful and controlling, and we are often blinded to the fact that we are mastered by it.  Isn’t selfishness really the root of all sin and ugliness?  It is why people hurt others, take what isn’t theirs, and neglect those who need them.  Selfishness is the virus of our humanity that brings about the awful illness of sin!

How do we defeat selfishness when it lurks in every shadow of our souls?  We resist it every day!  We fight it with kindness and service.  When we feel consumed with self-pity, we must turn our emotions outward rather than inward.  In other words, it must be INTENTIONAL.  Jesus said we had to decide to put other first and place ourselves last.  When can we start?  Right now?  How often will we need to renew our commitment to this decision?  Every day of the rest of our lives!

Kerry