"You Can't Have It, That's Mine!!" - Overcoming Selfishness

He had a problem. He had lots of things, but he wasn't using them correctly. He had so many things, that he had to build extra room to hold the things in. He was so content with his things, that he said to himself, "you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry". But then, it all came to an end. His "soul was required of him". His life was over. He had been selfish (cf. Luke 12:13-21).

The sad part of this man's story is that he had so much, yet never used it. He was selfish with his possessions. They could have gone toward much good, and brought so much joy to the less-forunate, but he kept it all to himself. He loved acquiring things rather than giving things away. What a miserable life!

Sometimes, we find ourselves in that same predicament. Selfishness was not confined to that rich fool, but is active in many lives even today. Selfishness manifests itself when we refuse to give time to Bible study, prayer, encouragement of weak brethren, money to the congregation, the less-fortunate, etc. Selfishness is indeed a handicap to living a full and abundant life in Christ.

God's Sefishness

Imagine if God was selfish. There would be no air to breath or food to eat. Life would be bland. It would be hopeless. Life as we know it would be non-existent. If God was selfish, there would have been no Savior to give His life for us. God gave (John 3:16). He did not hold back in giving the gift of His Son. Imagine if He had done so!

God is not one to hold back blessings or time for His children. He is the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). He allows us rain and other blessings to help sustain our physical lives. To group God and selfishness together in one sentence is an oxymoron. God is totally unselfish, and we should imitate Him in that regard.

Our Selfishness

Selfishness can be very subtle, almost totally unnoticeable. But, it is a hindrance to a Christian's spiritual growth and development. Paul stated that love does not "insist on it own way", but is generous and benevolent (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). Love is willing to give of itself, and never ask for anything in return. Selfishness is unloving, harsh, cold, ungrateful, and full of hatred. It is self-centered, and never God-centered.

God does not tolerate our selfishness, and He has the right no to! Why? Because He only requires what He Himself is already doing.

Applying Unselfishness

• Be a grateful person. There is no greater combatant of selfishness than gratitude. Paul admonishes us to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). A person who counts his many blessings (i.e. family, friends, material possessions, salvation, Christ, the church), will never have a prroblem being giving and unselfish. "Forget not all His benefits' (Psalm 103:2).


• Do not take life for granted. Isn't that what the rich fool did? At the very moment that he forgot about the uncertainty of life, his "soul was required of him". Life is totally unceertain, therfore, we should always live it as if it is our very last (cf. James 4:14-15). This means never heaping for ourselves vast amounts of material things that will never go to use.

Heavenly Father wants us to be a people who practice giving, thanksgiving, and forgiving. He wants us to give of our time, energy, and abilities unselfishly. Why? Because He unselfishly gives His for us. What more (or less) could He ask of us?

Be selfish unselfish.