What is going on everyone!! I hope everyone is staying safe and being cautious during this season! This week, I want to dig into a touchy subject that affects us all in some way or another. Today, we are dealing with SELFISHNESS. It is crazy that selfishness affects us in so many ways, and it really at its core is a heart issue we all struggle with. Selfishness looks like a lot of ways, including double standards (it’s okay for me to do this, but if you do it, it’s a problem), my way or the highway kind of thinking, even when it comes to not being generous with money, amongst many other kinds of examples.
Selfishness is the complete opposite of love. According to scripture, love consists of multiple character traits. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Selfishness, on the other hand, is concerned about one’s own personal agenda, forsaking the characteristics that exemplify what love is.
God loves us so much, that He gave His son for us so that we could experience Him in a close way. Selfishness would say, ‘I’m already perfect and don’t need any saving, so those people are just going to have to make it on their own’. Selfishness is that, ‘I’m going to look out for myself and not worry about anyone else’.
To an extent, there is a healthy selfishness. We can’t live our lives solely based on the needs and desires of others. We are supposed to be independent and have our own mind that is following Jesus and seeking His plan for us daily. We cannot be enslaved to the thoughts and perspectives of others, but at the same time, we do need to be generous and look out for each other.
We cannot be people of selfishness, but rather of love. Scripture tells us that, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Love looks outside of self to see and meet the needs of others.
Much Love,
Ryan W.
