28 Sep 2011 17 Comments

Free from the Stronghold of Selfishness

Selfishness is a stronghold we can’t avoid. Except by salvation through Jesus Christ we can’t even escape it. Our society teaches selfishness from the moment we are born and the moment we wake up in the morning. Sin is motivated by selfishness.

Selfishness is used by social leaders to manipulate the masses.

This stronghold can attach itself to a person via openings that are not sinful, such as selfish ambition, selfish desires, selfish or self-interests, self-seeking, self-righteous, self-esteem and more. It can attach through other strongholds such as self-hate, self-pity, self-deceptive, self-blame, and so on.

Selfishness comes in when our wants or emotions take priority. We become devoted only to ourselves. Selfishness infects our thinking. Concern for the interests, benefits or welfare of others no longer exists unless it is to our advantage or motivated by our own interests.

Selfishness gives other strongholds an easy path to our lives. Divorce, hate, gossip, slander, malice, and most other strongholds are invited in by selfishness.

Roosevelt thought selfishness eliminates God.

Biblical tips to overcome selfishness:

1. Receive salvation through Jesus Christ. Turning to God is the first and only step that can guarantee selfishness will take a back seat in your life. If you are selfish [go on sinning] after receiving Christ, repent and turn back.

Acts 238 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Galatians 2:20 I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live I live by believing in God’s Son, who loved me and took the punishment for my sins.

2. Seek good. Flee from evil. Do not curse God.

Psalm 10:3 The wicked person boasts about his selfish desires.  He blesses robbers, but he curses the Lord.

Romans 2:7-9 God will give everlasting life to those who search for glory, honor, and immortality by persisting in doing what is good. But he will bring 8anger and fury on those who, in selfish pride, refuse to believe the truth and who follow what is wrong. 9There will be suffering and distress for every person who does evil, for Jews first and Greeks as well.

3. Pray. When you pray for yourself, pray for what God wants you to have. Pray for others.

James 4:1-3 3When you pray for things, you don’t get them because you want them for the wrong reason—for your own pleasure.

James 5:16 So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective.

4. Consider others at all times and in all decisions you make. Consider God’s will first.

Philippians 2:3-4 Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. 4Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.

5. Love God. Love others. Love covers a multitude of sins including selfishness.

Proverbs 10:12 Hate starts quarrels, but love covers every wrong.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins. 18If it’s hard for the person who has God’s approval to be saved, what will happen to the godless sinner?

1 Corinthians 8:3 But if they love God, they are known by God.

6. Realize that only God is sovereign.

Palm 100:3 Realize that the Lord alone is God.  He made us, and we are his. We are his people and the sheep in his care.

Palm 100:3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.  He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.

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by Pola in Christian Authors, Selfishness Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,