The predilection to be selfish, seemingly hard-wired into us, makes us vulnerable to slip into that state at any time.
Our degree of selfishness is determined by the underlying beliefs and attitudes that determine our behavior across the myriad roles we play in life–parent, spouse, sibling, son or daughter, worker…all of them.
Our degree of surrender to God dictates the depth and scope of Christ-like qualities in our soul. Those qualities dictate our receptivity to God’s direction. Our receptivity to God’s direction dictates our degree of assimilation and action in real life.
Others may chase selfish pleasure and prestige and power but God commands us to live an opposite lifestyle—to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:14).
When we surrender and begin to model Christ, he can deal with our selfish behavior and unleash his power to be manifest in and through us. It takes the discipline of a disciple to pull that off as we seek God’s wisdom and direction every day.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
What attitude is producing selfishness in your life that you need to turn over to God? Pride? Entitlement? Victomhood? Or is it one on the long list of others?
For me, I ask God to help me fight off the selfish thoughts and desires that would separate me from him.
“Selfishness only causes trouble; you are much better off to trust God.” Proverbs 28:25
