Sunday, August 30, 2015

You Might Be Selfish If...



Jesus offers us abundant life. Life to the full. Life that is satisfying.

I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10b (The Message)

But the world is upside down.

You see, experiencing satisfying life is in direct proportion to being other-focused... to giving up selfishness for a selfless life... to giving more than getting. But the messages we hear are to grab, get, push, climb, win. Upside down.

That’s why, when we see the runner at a Special Olympics event stop to help another runner instead of winning, it touches something deep inside us. Causing even hardened reporters to tear up.

To turn life right side up we must identify where self-focus still rules and allow God to transform us into other-focused people.

Most people would say they are not selfish. It’s hard to blame them. We want to be more giving than getting, but that old nature keeps rearing it’s very ugly head. And it is so subtle. In fact we can serve other people and still be selfish. So I came up with a checklist for us. See how you do.

You might be selfish if you get angry when someone cuts you off.
You might be selfish if you refuse to forgive.
You might be selfish if you don’t allow yourself to be inconvenienced.
You might be selfish if you don’t give back to God what is His.
You might be selfish if you are not generous with other people.
You might be selfish if you are unhappy, (because selfless people are content).
You might be selfish if you refuse to help certain people.
You might be selfish if you are lazy.
You might be selfish if you think that what you are doing is more important than what others are doing.
You might be selfish if you insist on having your way.
You might be selfish if you always have to win or always be right.
You might be selfish if you refuse to sincerely apologize.
You might be selfish if you like being in control and find it hard to compromise.
You might be selfish if you hear constructive criticism as a personal attack.
You might be selfish if you find it difficult for someone else to be the focus of attention.
You might be selfish if you don’t want to work with others on a team.
You might be selfish if you choose events only for your benefit rather than how you can help others.
You might be selfish if you usually give negative feedback first.
You might be selfish if you are irritated when others ask you for help.
You might be selfish if you hear a message and think “______ (fill in a name)” should hear it.
You might be selfish if you think, “someone should do something about this” when you could do it.
You might be selfish if you are self-conscious about helping strangers in public.
You might be selfish if you are grumpy, sour and complaining.
You might be selfish if you only help others when it makes you feel good.

I’m not pointing fingers or trying to guilt you. It’s just that I WANT you to experience JOY that comes from the other-focused abundant life. And you will only experience satisfying life in direct proportion to being other-focused.

Or as Jesus puts it...
... remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35b (NIV84)

Boldly, Herb

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