If mankind’s basic weakness stem from selfishness, if it is what
causes us to become restless, weak willed,
hot tempered, self centered, lazy, critical, fearful, depressed or even
make us to adopt any other negative forms of behavior. Then there is no good in
being selfish. Therefore whenever we find any kind of it. We need to cry out for help from God.
But the good news is that this monster can be overcome. For every
characteristics of selfishness. There is an antidote, lets us see
characteristics of selfishness; impatient, unkind, proud, stingy, suspicious,
self-seeking, inconsiderate demanding, hostile. The antidote, LOVE, and characteristic
of love is patient, kind, sincere, generous, humble, polite, trusting,
gracious, unselfish, 1 Corin. 13:4-7.
And I think that basic cause of selfishness is fear and first
John 4:18 says, perfect love casts out fear, that mines selfishness can be
overcome and replaced by love, but only with Gods help.
Growing up as a Christian and learning to get better each day
I discovered that one of the hardest
things for us to learn and do is the principle of “He who finds his life will
lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it Matt. 10:39” but I
have also find out that whenever our faith have reached the point that we are
willing to surrender our life to Jesus then the grace is given, Jesus said
without me you can do nothing, John
15:5, the cure is basic, but only through the help of his Spirit, for the
Spirit helpth our infirmity Rom. 8:26, but when we don’t continue to abide in
Christ and depend on his spirit, we may slip into old patterns of behavior. We
must continue to abide and depend on the Holy Spirit for help to overcome our
selfish pattern of life.
I have learnt that the Holy Spirit is a catalyst of change
and He has a clear view of every persons heart and mind so that He know what
change is necessary and that He has authority to also influence us with the
wise use of His power in affecting change fearlessly in our live. With him we
are coming out in Jesus name.
In addition to these the
following will help us break selfish thought patterns and actions and improve
our relationships as we become others-conscious rather than been selfish.
1.
Replace selfish actions with generous
service to others,
one evidence of the spirit filled life is a submissive spirit. Selfishness is
self seeking, whereas a person with a submissive spirit will seek to serve
others. Whenever possible try to replace
every selfish thought or action by thoughtful, generous conduct, directing your
attitude outward rather than inward.
2.
Be generous. Practice
giving generously Matt. 6:3-4, selfish people always have a problem in
giving, whether to God or to their fellowman but when you begin to practice
giving you will find it increasingly easier to be generous in life. Talking from experience.
3.
LOVE. Give love to others each day, Col.
3:14, Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection, the
cure for selfishness is not complete until we have learned to express love. Let
us keep in mind that just as selfishness produces added selfishness, so love
begets love. Determine that with God’s help you will become a lover, beginning
with your own family then to others.
4.
Give yourself to God to help others “Likewise you also, reckon yourself
to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore
do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in it’s
lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to
sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from dead and your
members as instrument of righteousness to God. Rom. 6:11-13. The happiest
individuals in the world are people helpers. The most miserable are the
selfish. (Said by Tim Lahaye). Dedicate
yourself to serving the living creatures God love most – mankind.
5.
Practice being kind. Be kind to one another, tender
hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ Jesus forgave you Eph.
4:32, people are starved for kindness today. Go out of your way to be
considerate. It may not be easy at the beginning but with God’s help awe can
develop it into a life style. A man said that “The spirit of friendship always
generates a friendship smile, a warm embrace, and kindly deeds. God bless you
and see you next month.
