June 5, 2020

Today, I want to offer a devotional thought on one verse. This verse stood out to me as I was studying this passage, and it centers around something I am continually working on, and I am willing to bet you are working on it too. Today we are going to be talking about: selfishness.

You might call it pride or arrogance or self-centeredness; whatever you choose to call it, the point is that we are way better at worshipping and focusing on ourselves than we are at worshipping and focusing on God. In fact, I would argue that every single person reading this has a more natural disposition to focus on yourself than to focus on God or others. Our passage in Jeremiah shows us that this is an ancient problem.

Instead, they have stubbornly followed their own desires and worshiped the images of Baal, as their ancestors taught them. Jeremiah 9:14

The Bible is clear: the problem is not in our lack of worship; the problem is in the object of our worship. This has been seen since our ancestors Adam and Eve sinned against God by disobeying Him in the garden, following their own desires to be god, thereby showing they were worshipping themselves over Yahweh.

So, what are we to do with this tendency for selfishness? 

First, the solution for the sickness of selfishness begins and ends with the gospel. In the gospel, Jesus humbled himself and selflessly sacrificed himself for us, offering grace in the form of forgiveness and sanctification. Without Jesus, there is no hope; with Jesus, we have everything we need.

Second, notice the specific ways that your selfishness manifests itself. What are the ways that your heart is tempted to drift from God to yourself? Specifically bring these before the Lord and repent. Ask God to change your mindset to align with His for your life.

By: Graham Withers — Pastoral Ministry Associate