SELFISHNESS

Why is selfishness so destructive?

GENESIS 13:8-11    Abram said to Lot,"Let's not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate."...Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley...The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD...Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley.

GENESIS 27:35-41   Isaac said,"Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing." Esau exclaimed, "No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven't you saved even one blessing for me?: Isaac said to Esau, "I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants"...From that time on, Esau hated Jacob...And Esau began to scheme..."I will kill my brother."

Selfishness can destroy relationships and tear families apart. Selfishness can strengthen relationships and bring families closer together. Abram recognized that and sacrificed personal gain for the sake of his family, while Esau and Jacob struggled with selfishness.

ACTS 8:18   When Simon saw that the spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power.

Selfish ambition can cause you to do almost anything for personal gain.

How can I address the selfishness in my own life?

MARK 8:34   Calling the crown to join his disciples, Jesus said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish way, take your cross, and follow me."

GALATIANS 2:20   My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is in longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

When you surrender to God, you give up what you think is best for your life and do what he knows is best. You put aside your self-promoting ambitions so that you can do the job Jesus has for you. You ask Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to live in you and through you.

MATTHEW 20:28   Even the son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:24   Don't be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3   Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

JAMES 3:16   Wherever there is jealously and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Selfish motives produce selfish actions. To escape selfishness, you have truly want what is best for others more than what you desire for yourself.

1 JOHN 3:17    If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion how can God's love be in that person?

One of the best cures for a selfish heart is generous giving.

It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. If I don't look out for myself, who will?

LUKE 14:8, 10-11   When you are invited to a wedding feast, don't sit in the seat of honor...Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host see you, he will come and say, "Friend, we have a better place for you!" Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will exalted.

The highest honor form God awaits those who live their lives trying to serve and honor others.

PHILIPPIANS 4:19   This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs form his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

When you allow Jesus to take charge of your life, you can be assured that he is watching out for you, and thus you are freed from worrying about your own needs and able to focus on others.

Promise from God  MATTHEW 16:25   Jesus said, "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give u your life for my sake, you will save it.