Today there is so much emphasis on self! Self-esteem and self-discovery
are two highly discussed topics among the so-called "experts" of the world.
People actually believe that if you don't put self first, it's unwise
and unsafe. Supposedly, the more you are consumed with self, the stronger
you are as a person. Has anybody given any thought as to whether or not
self-centeredness is dangerous? Has anybody stopped to consider where
an obsession with self would lead you?? Let's see what the real Expert
on self would tell us as we turn to the Word of God for a right understanding...
Psalm 100:3, "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made
us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
I love the simplicity of the Word of God! The Bible clearly states that
God is our Creator; we did not create ourselves. Did you know that, dear
lady? If so, how has this truth changed the way you live? How are you
applying it to your life? Are you worshipping the Lord as God? Many people
live as though they are the creator and center of their own little world!
They worship themselves... Ladies, this godless mind-set leads to greedy
self-centeredness and, if everything should be taken away, easily ends
up in a life of hopelessness! Does that sound like the
makings of a stronger person to you?? Contrary to popular belief, it's
not "self" we need to discover, it's the Lord! When we understand that
GOD created us and gives us all we have, we will want to give to others
as He gave to us. Then, if all is lost, we still have the Lord and all
He gives us! Therefore, self-centeredness disintigrates in the face of
our Creator...
Matthew 25:24-25, "Then he which had received the one talent came and
said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou
hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: [25] And I was
afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast
that is thine."
Self-centeredness is a characteristic of sinful human nature. Here is
a man who was thinking only of himself. He hoped to play it safe and protect
himself from his "hard" master, but he was judged for his self-centeredness!
Likewise, we also will be judged for ours... Ladies, we must not make
excuses to avoid doing what God calls us to do. Have you been selfishly
complaining that the Lord has required more than you are capable of? Have
you been whining that He's too hard on you? That's nothing more than "self"
crying out in pity and rebellion! If God truly is our Master and Creator,
we must obey Him willingly. We must put to use what He has given us...
Our time, abilities, and money aren't ours in the first place - we are
caretakers, not owners; the sheep of HIS pasture, remember? Could it be
that, even as a Christian, you have been squandering
what He gave you only on yourself??
Mark 8:35, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever
shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save
it."
Self-centeredness is not part of a Christlike character... We should be
willing to lose our life for the sake of the gospel, not because our life
is useless, but because nothing - not even life itself - can compare to
what we gain with Christ! Ladies, Jesus wants us to choose to follow Him
rather than to lead a life of sin and self-satisfaction. He wants us to
stop trying to control our own destiny and to let HIM direct us, to lose
our self-centered determination to be in charge. This makes perfect sense
because our Creator knows better than we do what life is all about; He's
the real Expert, amen?
1 Peter 1:22, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love
one another with a pure heart fervently:"
One other point I want to bring out is that a self-centered person cannot
really love - it's as simple as that. You see ladies, sincere love involves
selfless giving... Each person's selfishness quickly affects others. God's
love and forgiveness free you to take your eyes off yourself and to meet
others' needs joyfully! Everyone benefits when self is put aside, amen?
How easy has it been for you to sacrifice for others as of late?? By sacrificing
His life, Christ showed that He truly loves you. Purify yourself through
obedience, dear lady... Only then you can love others by following Jesus
example and giving of yourself sacrificially.
Matthew 3:1-2, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the
wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand."
Self-centeredness is a sin that requires repentance! In those days, whenever
John the Baptist burst onto the scene, his theme was "Repent!" I daresay
if he showed up on the scene in these days he would still share the same
message. Repentance
means doing an about face - a 180-degree turn - from a life of self-centeredness
that leads to wrong actions such as lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping,
taking revenge, being abusive, indulging in sexual immorality etc. A person
who sincerely repents stops rebelling and begins following God's way of
living, as prescribed in His Word. When we ask, "What good does it do
to serve God?" we are really asking, "What good does it do for ME?" Our
focus is selfish! Ladies, the first step in turning to the Lord is admitting
your sin, admitting that self is no good, as John urged. Selfishness is
a rejection of God and all He represents... Those who have refused to
repent would tell you that self-centeredness has lead them down a very
dangerous path - straight into hell and a life without God forever!
Mark 8:36-37, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?"
In closing, self-centeredness is ultimately self-destructive! Many people
have lived and died having spent all their time and energy satisfying
self only to make a bleak discovery. Jesus said that a world of pleasure
centered on possessions, position, personal preference, or power is ultimately
worthless! But "self" wouldn't listen... Ladies, whatever you may secure
for yourself on earth is only temporary; it cannot be exchanged for your
soul!! If you work hard at getting what YOU want, you might eventually
have a "pleasurable" life, but in the end you will find it hollow and
empty... Instead of aggressively grabbing what we want, we should submit
ourself to God; ask God to help us get rid of our selfish desires, and
trust Him to give us what we really need! Follow Christ, and you will
know what it means to live abundantly now and to have eternal life as
well...
Are you willing to make the discovery of self more important than the
pursuit of God??
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2001 Pamela A. Iannello
