SELFISHNESS.
Now i know that that word doesnt seem so bad, but its a bitter word to me. What does it mean to be selfish? Well i'll tell ya!
self·ish
[sel-fish]
adjective
1.
When i think of being devoted to something, it means that i am really attached to that thing. I put a lot of time into it. So what happens when we become so devoted to ourselves that thats all we are concerned about? Well, for one, it no longer becomes about anyone else. It comes down to the core of--ourselves. We become so wrapped up in what we want, or how we want it, that when it comes down to us, and it doesn't go particularly the way we want it we become, mad, or bitter. Bitterness leads to anger, and that selfish person inside of us tends to flare up and our flesh begins to say things, and do things.--even think things, that maybe we wouldn't normally say, do, or think.
THIS IS NOT FROM GOD!!!!!
I love the book of James. In chapter 3 it says, " But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." [[James 3:14-16]]
wow!!! "such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic" Thats a scary thought!! That time when we get selfish, jealous, and bitter are of the flesh, or demonic! I dont want anything to deal with the enemy!! Nonetheless, this is something that i battle with, and i know many others do. Thats why i am so grateful for a God that gives us grace, and love, and covers ALL of our sins. No matter how big or small they are.
I can tell you, being in leadership, has taught me a great deal about this. While i was a Vice President, and leader for Campus Ministry, I learned how much I had to give less of me, and more of God. I had to give up my control, my thoughts, and my actions, and let God take control. It seemed to turn out a lot better when i did that too. What about when we are serving alongside others? You have to respect the leaders you are under. This has been a huge stepping stone for me, as i was a manager at a couple restaurants. I went from being a manager, where I had to learn not to be selfish, and service along side others, and not think highly of myself, to now I am an assistant in a classroom, where we share a lot of ideas, and skills. It could be very easy to take a selfish thought, and say I can do that better. However, that's not at all what we do. I work with some awesome ladies. We learn off of each other, and really respect each others roles.
A lot of times, when we work with a team of people, and serve under a leader, we have to learn to respect that leader. So often it can be easy to want to do things the way that we want them. We have to remember God anointed certain people to do certain things, and we need to respect that. Because if we are serving under someone, and we prefer things to go our way, and the option isn't there, or that wasn't the way it was directed; we can become very bitter, and angry, that it didn't go the way we wanted it to.
The way your life is set up, if you have chosen to follow God, is he will direct you in your steps. If we try to troubleshoot that, and try to take our steps whatever way we choose, it will not turn out the way God intended! We need to be patieint, wait on Him, and trust that he will deliver.
I encourage you to spend time with God, and ask him what areas in your life you are being selfish. You'll be surprised sometimes what he shows you. You may not even realize it.
devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits,welfare, etc., regardless of others.
THIS IS NOT FROM GOD!!!!!
I love the book of James. In chapter 3 it says, " But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." [[James 3:14-16]]
wow!!! "such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic" Thats a scary thought!! That time when we get selfish, jealous, and bitter are of the flesh, or demonic! I dont want anything to deal with the enemy!! Nonetheless, this is something that i battle with, and i know many others do. Thats why i am so grateful for a God that gives us grace, and love, and covers ALL of our sins. No matter how big or small they are.
I can tell you, being in leadership, has taught me a great deal about this. While i was a Vice President, and leader for Campus Ministry, I learned how much I had to give less of me, and more of God. I had to give up my control, my thoughts, and my actions, and let God take control. It seemed to turn out a lot better when i did that too. What about when we are serving alongside others? You have to respect the leaders you are under. This has been a huge stepping stone for me, as i was a manager at a couple restaurants. I went from being a manager, where I had to learn not to be selfish, and service along side others, and not think highly of myself, to now I am an assistant in a classroom, where we share a lot of ideas, and skills. It could be very easy to take a selfish thought, and say I can do that better. However, that's not at all what we do. I work with some awesome ladies. We learn off of each other, and really respect each others roles.
A lot of times, when we work with a team of people, and serve under a leader, we have to learn to respect that leader. So often it can be easy to want to do things the way that we want them. We have to remember God anointed certain people to do certain things, and we need to respect that. Because if we are serving under someone, and we prefer things to go our way, and the option isn't there, or that wasn't the way it was directed; we can become very bitter, and angry, that it didn't go the way we wanted it to.
The way your life is set up, if you have chosen to follow God, is he will direct you in your steps. If we try to troubleshoot that, and try to take our steps whatever way we choose, it will not turn out the way God intended! We need to be patieint, wait on Him, and trust that he will deliver.
I encourage you to spend time with God, and ask him what areas in your life you are being selfish. You'll be surprised sometimes what he shows you. You may not even realize it.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
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