Selfishness
II Timothy 3:2-5
Selfish
» Only addressed directly one
time. (II Timothy 3:2)
» But attitudes of people and
examples found throughout.
» Bible focuses upon NOT being
selfish.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the
merciful: for they shall obtain
mercy.
Selfish Agenda
1. Who does selfish benefit?
2. Who does selfless benefit?
3. God as an example of
selflessness.
1. Who does selfish
benefit?
» Answer is in the word itself:
» Self
» How does that benefit me?
Acts 5:1-6 Ananias & Sapphira
» jealousy
» greed
» lies
St. Basil’s Cathedral
» Commissioned
by Ivan IV
(Ivan the
terrible)
» Had architect’s
eyes removed
so no other like
it could be
made.
How does the Church
benefit me?
» Attitude some people have.
» I need: A big band,
entertainment, social groups,
people my age, a famous
preacher, opulent facility with
huge parking, and bumper
stickers.
» People need to think about
me.
» No room to serve God.
Numbers 15:2-3
Num 15:2 Speak unto the children of
Israel, and say unto them, When ye
are come into the land of your
habitations, which I give unto you,
Num 15:3 and will make an offering
by fire unto Jehovah, a burntoffering, or a sacrifice, to
accomplish a vow, or as a freewilloffering, or in your set feasts, to
make a sweet savor unto Jehovah,
of the herd, or of the flock;
Amos 5:21-22
» 800 Years later
Amo 5:21 I hate, I despise your
feasts, and I will take no delight in
your solemn assemblies.
Amo 5:22 Yea, though ye offer me
your burnt-offerings and mealofferings, I will not accept them;
neither will I regard the peaceofferings of your fat beasts.
» What have we done with it
today?
2. Who does selfless
benefit?
» Less self, not looking at what
is good for yourself.
Luke 10:25-37 Good Samaritan
» Was the Samaritan benefited?
Money, status, or
gratefulness?
Luke 6:31-34 Not looking for
what you can get out of it.
Do unto others
Romans 13:8-10 Love thy
neighbor as thyself
Ephesians 4:31-32 be ye kind
to one another
Philipians 2:3-4 counting others
better than himself;
Colossians 3:13 forgiving each
other
Who does God expect me to
be?
Genesis 50:1521
• Recognized
what God
expected of
him.
Mark 9:33-37
• How God
defines
greatness: To
serve others.
3. God as an example of
selflessness.
Luke 6:35-36 But love your
enemies, and do them good,
and lend, never despairing;
and your reward shall be
great, and ye shall be sons of
the Most High: for he is kind
toward the unthankful and evil.
Be ye merciful, even as your
Father is merciful.
» God sets the bar high.
Jesus as an example
Matthew 20:28 Jesus came to
serve and give His life.
Php 2:5 Have this mind in you, which was
also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 who, existing in the form of God,
counted not the being on an equality with
God a thing to be grasped,
Php 2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form
of a servant, being made in the likeness of
men;
Php 2:8 and being found in fashion as a man,
he humbled himself, becoming obedient
even unto death, yea, the death of the
cross.
God has called you to serve
Act 2:39 For the promise is
unto you, and to your children,
and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our
God shall call.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except
the Father which hath sent me draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And
they shall be all taught of God. Every man
therefore that hath heard, and hath learned
of the Father, cometh unto me.