The Sin of Selfishness

Kari Beougher

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4

This past weekend I kept my sisters 4 kids, ages 6 and under. I absolutely adore my nieces and nephews and above all other career choices desire to one day be a mother. However, this weekend was a strong indication for me of my selfishness. I am convinced that being a mother is one of the most selfless endeavors tin existence. Every moment of parenting is spent serving, cleaning. feeding and caring for another. This past weekend, I realized how pervasive selfishness is. It is so easy to be selfish with time, money, plans, relationships- and yet that is not the mindset or attitude Christ calls believers to.

The passage in Philippians goes on to say, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Phillippians 2:5-8. Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world, exemplified the most selfless attitude and actions of all time. And because He dwells inside believers, we are able to choose to love others above ourselves.

Today may we pray with the psalmist, "Incline my heart to your testimonies and not toward selfish gain!" (Psalm 119:36). May we actively look for opportunities to serve others and put their interests above our own.

Form of a Bond-Servant

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who...emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant..." (Philippians 2:5-6a, 7a).

Jesus was a sort of bond-servant to God - He served God above all else. What does it mean that He emptied Himself? Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. Even though He was God, He left His home and came to earth. He didn't lose His identity as divine, since we know He experienced temptations but was still without sin. He endured ridicule from some and suffering on the cross, knowing that He was God's Son and that He had a greater purpose to be a part of God's plan - to save His people.

How can we have the attitude of a bond-servant, like Christ? Christ served God first, no matter the cost. As believers, we've acknowledged our need of Him and received His grace. We now seek to serve Him first, but we can still struggle. Trip Lee offers encouragement in this arena, from his song, "We Told 'Em" -

"So we know that He's great, but we don't reflect Him well,

So when we told 'em that He saves, it was hard for them to tell

So it's time to live this thing, in light of the God who reigns

Let's not try to cause Him pain, show them a pic of the God who came."

Lord, thank You for showing us amazing grace. Work in us and help us put You first in our lives. Help us be a changed people, people who are a better reflection of You. Amen.

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men" (Colossians 3:23).

For a reference on being a bond-servant to Christ, see Paul's note in Galatians 1:10.
Verses from the New American Standard Bible.
Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Hear Trip Lee's song, "We Told 'Em," on YouTube here.

Humility of Mind

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others" (Philippians 2:3-4, NASB).

What does humility mean? Paul encouraged the Philippians to put others before self, instead of seeking ambition and praise for themselves first. He urged them to have "humility of mind." What does that look like?

Jesus gives us the perfect example of humility. He came to serve (Mark 10:44-45). He came to show us how to live on earth in honor to God. In His perfection, He chose mercy and compassion as He loved and healed people who were from different walks of life. He is God, and so He is distinct from the world. And yet, He loves it. Jesus endured in the face of suffering, so we could have a restored relationship and a new life with our Creator.

Looking at our perfect Savior, how can we be humble like Him? Growing in humility may be a process (at least it is for me). That's a reason why we need God, though. No challenge is too tough for Him, and He is there for us out of love. When we mess up in this regard, God is faithful to forgive sin when we confess it (1 John 1:9). He gives believers the Holy Spirit to help us grow (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).

As believers in Christ, we are told that "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16). By His strength and power, as we receive God's love and let Him work in us, we can live out humility and be a lighthouse to honor our Savior. We can let God and others be our chief concern, rather than letting personal interest or personal advantage be our main goal in life. A humble mind is driven by a love for God and others.

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but 

to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" 
-Micah 6:8, NASB

Lord, thanks for showing us what humility looks like. Forgive us for any pride that blocks us from considering others before ourselves. Renew our minds, so we can walk humbly with You. Amen.

Photo from dailybibleplan.com.
Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

Songs of Praise

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16, NASB).

In this verse, Christians are challenged to let God's Word dwell richly inside of them and to give thanks to God. If a dwelling is a place to live and reside, then we are to let these words not just pass through our ears but to take root inside us. As it takes root deep within us, penetrating our core with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overflow with thanks for what He is doing within us.

Martin Luther once prayed, 

"Grant that I may not pray with my mouth alone; 

help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart." 

Let us let God in, savor His Word, and overflow with thankfulness. Let's praise Christ for all that He is, and let us pray His Word penetrates our hearts, flows through our veins, and brings life to those around us. We can praise God, because He loved us while we were still sinners. He came to bring life and light to the world. Hopefully, this deep relationship with Him is or becomes an essential part of our lives.

Lord, thank You for creating us, for saving us and for being our Guide. After all is said and done, let our lives be filled with worship and thankfulness to You. Amen.

Check out an acoustic version of Crowder's song, "Holy" on YouTube here.
Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

Mending of Lives

"Older women, likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers, at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored" (Titus 2:3-5, NASB). 

In business marketing and human resources articles, often you can find extensive research on generational differences. It is important for companies to learn about who they are marketing to and about how to work together as a team. As believers, we know we are united as the church based on our faith in Christ. So, how can we help people who are different from us?

What has God taught you so far in your walk with Him? Whether it be large or small truths you are learning, you can share these with younger believers. We can build these relationships on love. We can live out God's truths and share with younger ones how God has taught us to walk by faith.

Do you have ideas on how to share with and how to connect different generations? It doesn't have to be a formal appointment. Whether it's going to the grocery store with someone, volunteering with them, or sending them an encouraging email or text message, we can pray God shows us ways we can help someone younger know Him more. It may take time to build relationships like that, but it's worth it.

Lord, help us be a people who help encourage younger ones along in this walk of faith we have with You. Help this to be part of the heartbeat in the body of Christ, so that others will know You more. Amen.

Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

People of Peace

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15, NASB).

Where do you go for air? What do you do to find peace?

A missionary once told me that when they look for people who can lead a Bible study on their own, they look for those who are a "people of peace." She looks for believers who find their peace in God, knowing that He has forgiven them and is leading them. They find solace in trusting God and having a relationship made right with Him.

When stress or anxiousness come, we can turn to God for understanding, wisdom, and direction on the next steps to take. There is peace and confidence in God when we have a mended relationship with Him. His grace in forgiveness and our faith in Him saves us and bring us under the guardianship of the Lord over all. He forgives and is here to help us walk as we follow Him.

Our Lord brings lasting peace. He made us, He has a genuine and lasting love for us, He wants to save us from destruction, and He wants to invite us into His presence for good. Let's pray that we find peace in Him.

Lord, thanks for sending Christ to us, to show us Your love. Help us be a people of peace, a people who fully trust in You and rely on You. Help us see ways to tell others more about who You are, so maybe they will come to experience this peace You bring. Amen.

An acoustic recording of "Psalm 63" by Kerith Worship - www.youtube.com. They have another one with great lyrics, "Drawing Near" - www.youtube.com - Kerith Worship.
Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

Bond of Unity

"...love, which is the perfect bond of unity" Colossians 3:14b (NASB).

Unity - it reminds me of people who come together to reach victory. Whether it be a sports team, an army, or a work group, usually a group unified at some point has to go through something - a competition, a battle, or at least some amount of time of concentrated effort. The blood, sweat and tears that can happen in the thick of a hardship can appear unattractive by onlookers. Not every united group may win the way they first planned. Although, they represent a victory to me when they hold a unity of purpose and a love for something outside of themselves.

The verse above describes how love unites people perfectly. God is love, and so love is meant to define us as individuals following Him. Also, it's meant to define us as a group of believers in Christ.

As believers, we have accepted God's love and His love is working in us, but we can also have this special bond in that we live it out together, as one body. The church definitely has people who are different - unique interests, different personalities and varied spiritual gifts. Yet, a believer's common bond with other believers is that we know, believe and trust in God's grace. We know this walk with Him has joy as well as suffering, and we know that God has told us to take heart, since He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Christ has shown us how to walk on earth in love, and the Holy Spirit has the power to help us love today. We have seen God's grace work in our own lives and draw us to Him. We are a family of people who are made to unite under Him and live out and display His love. Let's unite in this love of God, so others may come to see more of who He is and how He brings light and life.

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35, NASB).

Study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from the Vancouver Sun of the Canadian Women's Basketball Team at the London 2012 Olympics (www.vancouversun.com).

Thread of Love

"Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond..." (Colossians 3:14a, NASB).

What do you picture, when you picture love? The word "binds" in the verse above makes me think about how threads can bring sleeves and other elements of a shirt together. That thread unites the parts that make up the final piece, so you can wear it. Like threads on a shirt, love rooted in Christ is the key to the virtues in Colossians 3:

• compassion
• kindness
• humility
• gentleness
• patience
• bearing with one another 
• forgiveness
• thankfulness

Love defines God; it's a part of His character (1 John 4:7-8). It is what drives Him in the action He takes. It's why He works in us, and it's how He renews hearts.

We can throw out those old "clothes" - lives distinguished by anger and rage, malice and slander, filthy language, lies and prejudice. We can do that with the Holy Spirit's power. Because of the price Christ paid on the cross and out of our trust in His lead, we can have this walk with God, a walk in the ways of love as we follow Him. It's His desire and joy to help us live love like He does. It's a great trade - turning in our old lifestyles for a new one marked by love, love like our Creator and Savior.

How can you love others today? How can you help weave a lifestyle of God's kind of love in your community and your city this month?

Lord, thanks for Your unmatchable love! Open our eyes to see opportunities to love more like You. Help us share with others how we learn from the best. Amen.

"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him" (1 John 4:16, NASB). 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Check out the song "Captivated" by Jeremy Camp - www.youtube.com - photos by Edenview Photography.
Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Image by Paul Soupiset. Find samples of his work at www.paulsoupiset.com.