Showing posts with label Self. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Self. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
America is making a grave mistake. Christians have cast off their trust in God and are voting their special interests and fears rather than the godly values that made America great. Men who stand for the righteousness of biblical values are abandoned for base power mongers and showmen. Like those in the days of Saul, the people are:
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Love Is Not Into Itself
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)
Have you ever been around someone who is so focused on themselves that they never shut up about who they are and what they are doing? Fortunately, I tend to be a listener and so am able to gratify this type of personality. There are times, though, that I wish someone would show some interest in what the Lord is doing with me and the ministry that has been entrusted to me. Have you ever felt that way?
This word “vaunteth” (perpereuomai) allows us to see the problem of self-centeredness. It comes from perperos, which means braggart. So, to vaunt oneself is to boast about one's self and to display self while employing rhetorical embellishments in extolling one's self excessively.
Self is the center of sin’s attention. Another way to say this is: Sin is at the center of self’s attention. All sin is self-centered, self-gratifying and self-aggrandizing. As the old song goes, “It’s all about Me, Me, Me, nothing else but Me, Me, Me ...” This was the problem with Lucifer’s character and what caused him to lose his place in the presence of God. “I will ..., I will ..., I will..., rolls from his lips in utter contempt of God as we read the record of Isaiah 14:13 & 14.
On the other hand, God Who is Love is always focused on the need of His creation. Every decision, every plan, purpose and act was, is, and will be, made and carried out for the ultimate benefit of those He loves. The creation, the world and all that are in it, are loved by God (Joh. 3:16). He is always giving at His own expense to and for those whom He loves.
The late Edwin Louis Cole said, “Love gives to the benefit of others at it’s own expense. Lust takes at the expense of others to gratify itself.” God is love (1 Joh. 4:8, 16) and therefore can do nothing but give to the benefit of others. What if our interest was in others and helping them do what they are called to do?
Have you ever been around someone who is so focused on themselves that they never shut up about who they are and what they are doing? Fortunately, I tend to be a listener and so am able to gratify this type of personality. There are times, though, that I wish someone would show some interest in what the Lord is doing with me and the ministry that has been entrusted to me. Have you ever felt that way?
This word “vaunteth” (perpereuomai) allows us to see the problem of self-centeredness. It comes from perperos, which means braggart. So, to vaunt oneself is to boast about one's self and to display self while employing rhetorical embellishments in extolling one's self excessively.
Self is the center of sin’s attention. Another way to say this is: Sin is at the center of self’s attention. All sin is self-centered, self-gratifying and self-aggrandizing. As the old song goes, “It’s all about Me, Me, Me, nothing else but Me, Me, Me ...” This was the problem with Lucifer’s character and what caused him to lose his place in the presence of God. “I will ..., I will ..., I will..., rolls from his lips in utter contempt of God as we read the record of Isaiah 14:13 & 14.
On the other hand, God Who is Love is always focused on the need of His creation. Every decision, every plan, purpose and act was, is, and will be, made and carried out for the ultimate benefit of those He loves. The creation, the world and all that are in it, are loved by God (Joh. 3:16). He is always giving at His own expense to and for those whom He loves.
The late Edwin Louis Cole said, “Love gives to the benefit of others at it’s own expense. Lust takes at the expense of others to gratify itself.” God is love (1 Joh. 4:8, 16) and therefore can do nothing but give to the benefit of others. What if our interest was in others and helping them do what they are called to do?
Sunday, December 20, 2009
No Profit
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3 (KJV)
Way too many folks are lulled into a sense of well being by how benevolent they are. They feed the hungry, clothe the needy, provide housing for the homeless during the icy winter months or give toys to the kids at Christmas. That these are noble and right things to do, there is no doubt. But, how does God look at such things?
Others are filled with a kind of spiritual pride at how sacrificially they serve their “God,” their “Church,” Organization, Community or a favorite cause. Unfortunately, the only benefit they will ever realize is how good it makes them feel at the moment.
You see, everything that is done with a selfish motive is useless and sinful in the sight of the Lord. Self gratification is the furthest thing from the heart of God that there can be. Motive is everything. Even feeding starving children can be a sinful act motivated by self-centered pride, a gnawing guilt, or fear.
Don’t misunderstand me here. I’m not saying that doing any of these acts of kindness are sinful in and of themselves. In fact, quite the opposite. I thank God for any need that is met by one who cares for others, no matter what the motivation.
What I want to point out is the simple but profound truth that is found in our verse for today. In the economy of God, there is no profit to the benefactor who does such acts without them being an overflow of the love, agape, of God.
This simply means that our show of benevolent intent should have its beginning in the heart of God and that it should be an expression of His love through us. It is the same for sacrificial service of any kind. Even “missions” can be a sinful act if it puffs up and makes the flesh proud. The love of God in Christ for the souls of every kindred, tongue, people and nation is the only acceptable and profitable cause for the missionary. Gods love felt and expressed is the only right motive of the Christian.
Way too many folks are lulled into a sense of well being by how benevolent they are. They feed the hungry, clothe the needy, provide housing for the homeless during the icy winter months or give toys to the kids at Christmas. That these are noble and right things to do, there is no doubt. But, how does God look at such things?
Others are filled with a kind of spiritual pride at how sacrificially they serve their “God,” their “Church,” Organization, Community or a favorite cause. Unfortunately, the only benefit they will ever realize is how good it makes them feel at the moment.
You see, everything that is done with a selfish motive is useless and sinful in the sight of the Lord. Self gratification is the furthest thing from the heart of God that there can be. Motive is everything. Even feeding starving children can be a sinful act motivated by self-centered pride, a gnawing guilt, or fear.
Don’t misunderstand me here. I’m not saying that doing any of these acts of kindness are sinful in and of themselves. In fact, quite the opposite. I thank God for any need that is met by one who cares for others, no matter what the motivation.
What I want to point out is the simple but profound truth that is found in our verse for today. In the economy of God, there is no profit to the benefactor who does such acts without them being an overflow of the love, agape, of God.
This simply means that our show of benevolent intent should have its beginning in the heart of God and that it should be an expression of His love through us. It is the same for sacrificial service of any kind. Even “missions” can be a sinful act if it puffs up and makes the flesh proud. The love of God in Christ for the souls of every kindred, tongue, people and nation is the only acceptable and profitable cause for the missionary. Gods love felt and expressed is the only right motive of the Christian.
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