Selfishness

3. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  

4.  Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.   

Philippians 2:3-4  NIV  

Life in the Gospel is often an adventure.  Even though we go to church to find peace, to rest, to recharge, it is often the most difficult part of the week.  In church, are all kinds of people.  There are many selfish people that are only looking out for themselves, and can really only see their own situation in life.  And so we hear the comment, "I do not like going to church because the people there are not living the Gospel."  Well, this is true!  Many people do not live the Gospel.  They are much more interested in just looking out for their own interests, making themselves look good, taking advantage of others, etc.  And yet, that is what we are here for.  Who will help these people if not you?  Who will show forth a good example, patience in long-suffering, to help these selfish people, if not you?  

We often want to serve God, and sometimes dream about being sent to a foreign nation, returning in triumph like Jonah, having converted the entire city.  And yet, here are the Ninivites, right here at church!  Can we have patience in long-suffering, always showing forth good examples to those whom the Lord has placed in our lives?  Can we strive with the members at church, until all of them are converted?  

"But these are not nice people.  They insult me, they hurt me, they spread rumors about me.  I have never done any of those things to them!"  Yes, of course!  Sometimes others are oblivious to the evil they do, and other times, they know very well the evil they do.  But what about us?  We need to do right before God.  We need to be good, no matter what the other members do to us.  All this and more happened to many in the Scriptures, good people being beat, tortured, imprisoned, and even killed.  Yet, they kept the faith!  Even our Saviour kept the faith.  Are we better than He?  Let us be good, even when bad things are done to us on purpose.  

Let us give up our selfishness, and keep striving with those who are not yet converted to the Father.  Let us be humble, for they are worth as much as we are.  Let us not look to our own self-interests, but look to their eternal salvation.  

Remember, we are only here for a short season; we can do this!  

May God bless you all.  

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