THE FALL MADE US SELFISH!

Saturday, November 16, 2019

THE FALL MADE US SELFISH!

Titus 1:7

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

2 Peter 2:9-10

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished:

10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

           F. B. Meyer said: “Man’s fall, whatever else it may have been, resulted in a complete change in the centre of his being. He was made in the likeness of God, and God’s nature is absolutely selfless.” Man and woman were naked in the garden without shame and the reason was that they were not “self-conscious” of their nakedness. In fact, one of the first questions asked of them was “who told you that you were naked?” They were not aware that their nakedness was a problem until the fall.

           The conflict between Cain and Abel was a problem of self-centeredness. Cain, through the fall, had developed a pertinacious focus upon himself. [Pertinacious is an adjective meaning: “adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design; perversely persistent. Stubbornly tenacious”]. A self-willed person is spiritually and emotionally immature. A newborn is totally focused upon himself. When he is hungry or wet, he cries loudly without regard to the comfort or convenience of anyone else. Later he develops an awareness of mother and then of others. As he matures, he learns to be courteous. Too many have failed to develop courtesy as a sign of maturity. They are self-willed.

            Stubbornly and arrogantly insisting on one’s own way is specifically forbidden in bishops or pastors, but it is a character trait of mature believers as well. How can one devote his life to the service of God and others while the center of his focus is himself? “Self-willed” is translated from the Greek authades which means “self-pleasing, arrogant and overbearing.” The believer should not be guilty of this.

           Judas complained of the “waste” of the ointment in the alabaster box because his focus was not on worship but on his own wealth.

Mark 14:6-10

6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

Dear Lord, please change the focus of my heart. Help me to think first of you and then of others. AMEN