Sunday, July 30, 2023 AM
RETURN TO HOLINESS: Sin of Selfishness
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. —Galatians 6:3-10
PAUL
SELFISHNESS
3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, —Galatians 6:3-4
1. THE
OF SELFISHNESS
–The first thing Paul says is that a selfish person has the wrong concept of who they are.
–Selfishness is a master of deception.
–It would be wise for us, if possible, before embarking or requesting something, for us to ask in this case What Would Jesus Do? WWJD
–This is in essence what Paul was saying in verse 4. Test our own actions!
2. THE
OF SELFISHNESS
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. —Galatians 6:7-10
–The principle expressed here by Paul in Galatians also applies to the person who is selfish.
–A selfish person is never satisfied. They always want and demand more. Their appetite becomes more and more intense.
–We are sowing the seed of the flesh because selfishness is designed to attempt to satisfy the fleshly desires of life.
–In other words Paul said, “Let us think about OTHERS.”
THE
OF SELFISHNESS
–Selfishness may express itself in many ways, but for our purpose this morning let’s address four areas of selfishness that may be observed in believers.
–We will take a few moments to look at these four: Our interests, our time, our money, and inconsiderateness.
1. OUR
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. —Philippians 2:3-4
–In using the word interest, Paul was undoubtedly referring to the concerns and needs of others but in a more narrow use of the term it can refer to subjects we are interested in.
–What are our interests?
–For many of us it is our children and grandchildren or accomplishments in life. We all like to talk about and show pictures of them to our friends or tell them how important we are to our company, business or organization.
–The problem is our friends like to do the same thing.
–It is so easy to get carried away and spend an inordinate amount of time talking about our things and basically saying to them, “Your issues are not important.”
–Paul reminds us with a list of ugly sins that will be characteristic of the “Last Days” in II Timothy 3:1-5. Included in this list is “lovers of self” which is a good description of a selfish person.
–A selfish person is interested in only himself, and his self-centered conversation reflects this.
2. OUR
–Time is a precious commodity, and each of us has only a fixed amount in a day.
–We all are busy, so it’s easy to become selfish with our time.
–Everyone (men or women, young or old) we all tend to guard our time for our own personal ends.
–There are multiple ways we can express our selfishness of time.
–You see a selfish person rarely sees the needs of others in the family or circle of acquaintances and will feel no sense of compassion toward one who seems overwhelmed.
3. OUR
–I will not spend much time here. We just spent the past three weeks discussing how our stinginess was also a sign of unthankfulness fueled by selfishness.
–Surveys show that Americans, who live in the richest nation in all of history, give less than 2% of their income to charitable and religious causes.
–Paul reminded us in…
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. —Romans 12:15 (KJV)
–And the apostle John wrote in…
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? —I John 3:17
–Taken together, these verses tell us that we are to cultivate hearts of compassion toward those in need and then put that compassion to work through our giving.
4. THE TRAIT OF
–This trait is expressed in several ways.
–The inconsiderate person never thinks about the impact of his or her actions on others.
–Any time we do not think about the impact of our actions on others, we are being selfishly inconsiderate.
–We also can become inconsiderate of the feelings of others.
–We are to look not only to our interests but also to the interests of others.
–Selfishness often results in arguments and disagreements because the person is inconsiderate of the other person’s perspective or desires.
–The greatest example of unselfishness is the LORD Jesus Christ who though He was rich, for out sake became poor so that we by His poverty we might become rich.
–If you have never accepted Jesus as LORD and SAVIOR I want to encourage you to do so. If you have then I ask you to live your life as He demonstrated with His own life.
LIVE IT OUT
–How many of you spent your morning thinking about other people this applied to?
–What has God said to you about selfishness in your life?
–What steps can you take to overcome selfishness in your life?