Selfish Desires

Many people have weird addictions. Some minor addictions might include salts/sweets, clothes, hats, or shoes. Some major addictions could be drugs, alcohol, or pornography. I want to share an addiction that a lot of people would never consider—an addiction to yourself.

I never realized that deep down as much as I hate to admit it, I'm addicted to myself. I think a majority of people are. Ask yourself this question, "Do I put others wants and needs before my own?" This might sound funny or not make sense, but just think about it for a while. One of my big flaws—if not the biggest is I'm very selfish. Sometimes I'm so focused on my own wants and desires that I don't takes others into consideration.

Selfishness ruins families, friendships, relationships, and marriages. Do you want to know a reason why there is a 50% divorce rate? Selfishness. Selfishness doesn't say sorry. Selfishness doesn't admit to mistakes. Selfishness blames others for your faults and failures. One thing I have struggled with is taking blame. I hardly admit that I'm wrong. It's so easy to blame other people for our own mistakes. Selfishness points fingers. I'm always so quick to point what other people do wrong—but never point out what I did wrong. It has hurt a few of my past friendships and even current friendships.

Jesus nailed this on the head when he gave the sermon on the mountain in Matthew 7:3-4, "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?" It's time to stop pointing out the specks in other people's eye and start taking the log out of our own.

When you're selfish, all you care about is yourself. (obviously) We are called to be the exact opposite. We're called to put other peoples wants before our own. Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others." 

I want to strive to be someone who is selfless, and I encourage you to do the same. Everyone has heard John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." Notice how it says God so loved the world that he GAVE his one and only son. When God gave his only son I don't think he was joking around. It doesn't get anymore deeper than that. 

As humans we want to be served. It's human nature. I want to challenge you to be a person who doesn't expect to be served but to serve. That's what Jesus was about and if that's what he was about that's what we should be about too. Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

When our heart is so focused on ourselves and our desires it's not only hard to serve others—but to love others. Selfishness is poison. If you want to go fast chase after you're own desires, but if you want to go far put other people's desires before your own.

Selfishness says that you're greater. Selfishness wins arguments and loses relationships. There isn't a single argument that's worth winning if you lose a loved one. I personally want to apologize to anyone that I have been selfish towards. I'm sorry. Trust in a God who uses crooked sticks like you and me to make straight lines. That same God turns selfish hearts into selfless hearts. Believe.