Oh it feels like it’s been awhile since I have written, but my mind hasn’t stopped ruminating. There is much to write about, but what to choose, that seems to have been my conundrum. What do you say to a world that is in disarray? What words do you choose to comfort the ones drenched in tears asking why? How can men be so evil to wage war with one another with little to no thought at the cost of life. The answer is within - selfishness (sin). The selfishness of man is sickening to the core. It is easy to point to the selfishness of those who seem to have no care for a human life, but rather see the pursuit of their power and pleasure as far greater. But what about you? Have you considered the ways in which your selfishness is crippling?
A simple question I pray that you ponder. Selfishness is easy and does not need to be taught. It is a man’s natural inclination. Why is the world in disarray, children crying, women and men being abused left and right, and men constantly raging war with friends and foes? Because men are selfish, we choose to make ourselves the god of our life, we desire to please us. James 3:16 says “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
You say that is not me, the world yes, but not me, aw but it is. Don’t be deceived. James 4:1-2 says “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.”
What to do? Turn from your selfish ways and seek the only one who was selfless, the man Jesus Christ (Matt. 7:7-8). It is He, a sinless man, who laid down His life on the cross for the sins of selfish men, you and I. Because of His great love for us He saved us from death to life. Jesus is the answer to this broken world (Phil. 2:3-8).
You remember James 3:16 “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice”? That is you and I without Christ, but praise be to God the passage continues and a new life in Christ changes everything. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18). This wisdom is that which comes from God. Are you broken? Look to Jesus! Are you hopeless? Look to Jesus! Are you crippled by anxiety, fear, and worry? Look to Jesus! Are you lost? Look to Jesus!
He calls the dead to life, brings hope to the hopeless, calms the anxious soul, comforts and cares for the brokenhearted, restores faith to the faithless, makes the one who is evil pure, enables the selfish man to pursue selflessness. That is my God, my Savior, my Redeemer, and Friend. If you know Him as your Lord, be encouraged, recall His Word, and pursue Christ likeness. If He is not your Lord I pray you consider making Him your Lord today (Rom. 3:23, Rom. 6:23, John 3:16). Flee your selfish ways, repent, and rest in Christ (Eph. 1:18, Jer. 29:11, Rom. 8:28). He is enough (Heb. 13:6, Ps. 118:6).
Philippians 2:1–11
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.