Changing Our Selfish Heart || Sins of the World #10

Selfish or Self-Care?

Welcome back to “Sins of the World!” I’m taking a deeper dive into the words of Galatians 5:19-21 to talk about what we need to avoid and how they can lead us to the Fruit of the Spirit. In Part 9, we looked at anger – the intense, heated emotions that is shown through explosive outbursts or seething resentment. We looked at Romans 2:4 to talk about how even God’s anger leads to a place of compassion, grace, and patience. God encourages to love others how we’d want to be loved. The Old covenant was led by the Lex Talionis (the Law of Retaliation). Jesus reminds us in the “Sermon on the Mount” that we are called to love our enemies. To no longer seek revenge, but lead with dignity, self-respect, and poise. We’re encouraged to be patient with one another – to endure the hardships that we face by ourselves and together. To overcome thing anger, we recognized that we may need to change our ways, or repent. These changes may not be easy. These changes may hurt and cause grief. However, these changes will help us reconcile our relationship with God and transform ourselves into a reflection of Him for others. God’s going to be right there with us at all times.

In Part 10, we are looking at selfishness. Sometimes, our society can mix self-care as selfishness and vice versa. So, what is selfishness? How can avoid allowing selfishness to lead our thoughts and actions? This is what I want to dive into today!

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What does selfishness look like to you?

Understanding Selfishness

Selfishness is the Greek noun eritheia (eh-ree-thay’-ah). Selfishness depicts a striving for prominence that disregards the good of others and the will of God. Externally, it can show up as energetic or being a visionary. Internally, it shows up as pride and jealousy. In the Greco-Roman world, politics were full of rivalries and different philosophers warned against argumentative contexts. The churches were filled with situations like these. New Christians that rose up through the social hierarchy built on selfishness were not called to move to a Christ-filled mindset – one that leads through sacrificial service.

The message of the Gospel talks about justification by grace and unity in the church body. Essentially, we all come together as God’s chosen people following God’s righteous command to do His will and be His hands and feet in all parts of the earth. Selfishness destroys this message, putting the focus on person’s skills and individual accomplishments. Selfishness opposes the goals of love, peace, and kindness, rebelling against God’s wisdom.

Selfishness puts the focus on us and us alone. No matter the good works that others have done for us or with us, they do not matter when it comes to selfishness. The goal is for us to be the center of attention. It’s doing things for clout. It’s doing it because it will get the attention of someone around us, or so that will look good on our resume or college application. Doing so for the recognition and accomplishment is not why God wants us to go out and take care of our neighbor. Jesus came to teach us the counter-cultural way – serve others first before ourselves.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How do you feel about those that do good in the world just for recognition? Do you feel conflicted? Do you feel positive?

Selfish Church Leaders

We are going to land in Philippians 1:17 to talk about selfishness.

AMP – but the former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self-promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment.

NRSVUE – the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment.

VOICE – And I also know there are others who are preaching the Anointed from true goodness, motivated by love. They wish me the best because they know I’m here in prison in defense of the gospel.

The Philippian church was wrestling with different motivations from those who preach God’s word. The selfish ambition shows in those who want personal gain or advancement, regardless on if anyone gets hurt. God looks close at the heart and warns us against doing good things for the right reasons. There’s also a lack of sincerity in the Philippian preachers, showing that they are not genuine in their intentions. Insincerity can lead to division and chaos within the church.

Paul wrote this letter from prison and the preachers that are working at his church is making him more stressed. The “chains” that Paul refers to is not just his imprisonment, but also his commitment to share God’s word despite the adversity he faces. It’s believed that he is in Rome during this imprisonment, which was known for their harsh conditions, which added to the stress of what’s going on.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: Paul feels concerned and stressed over the selfishness that is happening with the leaders of his church. When you are witnessing others being selfish, hurting the community they serve, how do you respond?

Creating a Space for All

Understanding that why behind our actions is often more important than the action itself. Actions are always grounded in intention. Churches are held to a higher stand when it comes to this belief, now more than ever. With the rise of Christian nationalism and the increased push of conservative Christian ideals, we’re witnessing the call of accountability within the church and those who call themselves Christians.

Unfortunately, a lot of Christians tend to push forward certain ideals to oppose people who are living in “sin.” I say that delicately because I’m aware that this can be viewed subjectively, but we often see the legislation, policies, and ideals pushed affect those in marginalized communities. Everyone often in differing ethnic and economic groups, sexual orientations and gender identities are often held down by the current structures of society because a select group of individuals decide that different lifestyle choices, both intentional and unintentional are wrong and therefore should not exist.

Granted, I’m aware that our current situations are far more nuanced that this, but I truly believe this is to be a true genuine statement. Working in a church for a decade, I was a witness to this. I was apart of a discussion related to LGBTQ+ rights within our community, after it was revealed to us that our Pastor at the time officiated a marriage for a lesbian couple offsite. Conversations were around whether or not this was okay, why it happened, what did it mean for our church, and more. I heard both supporters of the LGBTQ+ rights and those who did not support it. While some of the conversation was on the administrative side of everything. What impacted me the most was witnessing my youth group be a part of that conversation, not saying anything but being a witness to the conversation at hand. It was hard to ensure where they were mentally in the middle of all the conversations. Hearing that you don’t deserve the same rights as straight people, hearing that you don’t matter as much as straight people – essentially, being invalidated for existing the way that you do. No one deserves that. No one should institute policies and stipulations for not abiding by the same lifestyle choices as each other. The world was designed to live in a way that we can all cohabitate. Our role is not to judge others for being different than us, but to create a space where we get an equal chance to live the life that God designed us to do.

Selfishness focuses on our own gain, regardless of those we he hurt. We see so many people in power focus on trying to make it in this world that they will do whatever they want and say whatever they want to ensure they will get there. They don’t care who they hurt, how they hurt them, or why they hurt them. If they wanted gain, then they will get the gain no matter how it happens.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How do we combat selfish acts happening with people in power? How can we hold them accountable?

Change of Heart

It’s a reminder that we need to pay attention to our hearts, as it shows in 1 Samuel 16:7

AMP – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

NRSVUE – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him, for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

VOICE – Take no notice of his looks or his height. He is not the one, for the Eternal One does not pay attention what humans value. Humans only care about the external appearance, but the Eternal considers the inner character.

Israel was in need to a king after Saul’s disobedience, but the decision wouldn’t reset on Samuel’s gut choice or in the family bond. Samuel was going to choose based on God’s will. Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, had the visible qualities that Israel had admired in Saul. However, appearance and statues can’t establish faithfulness to God, and God didn’t want to have another Saul leading Israel. Eliab was rejected as God’s next king for Israel. God knows each of us by our hearts, our hidden motive behind our actions. Choosing David signified that God’s purpose isn’t dignified by human status, age, appearance, or custom. God tends to choose those that are overlooked so His wisdom and grace are made clear to all people.

God looks at our hearts – our desires, convictions, affections, intentions, and moral direction. Now, David would fail later on in his life, yet David was a man that turn to God in repentance and sought to obey Him. God wants our hearts to be set on Him instead of appearance.

God wants us to love Him and our neighbor because it’s what He commands. God doesn’t want us to do for our own selfish gain. Don’t do it for the clout, or to impress someone, or to get the recognition. Good things done with the wrong intentions, are not good. We approach all things with a servant’s mindset, as Jesus did. Looking to do good in the world because we want to help our neighbor rise up in the world. Listening to their needs and creating paths for us to help meet their needs within a realm of their ability. When we start to focus less on ourselves and more on how we can best serve God and others, then we start to lose the selfishness that has plagued us for life.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How can you change your heart to be more like God’s?