The Self-Centred Life

I asked God what message He had for me for 2024. Freedom from living a self-centred life was the topic given to me. We live in a world where self-centeredness is the norm. We are encouraged to do whatever we must to get what we want. I remember seeing a picture of a man chasing a heap of money when he was young. He was catching flyaways of dollar bills while eagerly running after the heap. He captured most of the money when he was old, at the end of the chase and about to die. So, what was the point? He spent his entire life chasing money, only to catch it all and meet with death. The book of Ecclesiastes discourages us from living a self-centred life. Solomon is a man to learn from. I wrote about key lessons we can take from his life in Lets Learn From King Solomon  . He outlines the vanity of living for yourself and the pleasures of life.

What is the point of passing through this life with the sole aim of living comfortably? What is the end of your existence if all you do with your life is live for yourself? Is that all there is to life? There must be more! And indeed, according to the Scriptures, there is. There are two key points about self-centredness we must be aware of.

1. Self-centredness gives us a false sense of success

Why share what you have when you can have more for yourself? Why give to others when you can keep and enjoy what you have? You worked for what you have, so why share? Why share your money, time, and talent with others? Let us take a look at what the Bible has to say about this:

Proverbs 11:24, ESV One gives freely yet grows all the richer, another withholds what he should give and only suffers want.

The Bible clarifies that you can withhold what you have all you want and still always be in need. It is bondage to withhold what you have consistently. Ironically, generous people grow richer. Mathematically, this doesn’t make sense. But this is simply a principle God has established. Self-centredness never generates wealth. Even with money in the bank, a self-centred mind diminishes the ability to enjoy what one has. The inability to give and share what one has will prevent a person from truly enjoying one’s wealth. 
Hebrews 13:16, ESV And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

The self-centred mindset is deceitful. Generosity will be challenging when you believe that your life is all about how much you possess and when your ultimate goal is to increase those possessions. The self-centred person doesn’t see the needs of others around them. The only need they recognise is their need for more things. The deceit of gain and the love of money blinds this person’s ability to live generously.

Luke 12:15, ESV And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Self-centredness deceives you into believing that you will have more things and be happier. Self-centredness also deceives you into believing that you will have more time by not sharing your time with others. This is not the case. All we must do is look at rich celebrities who had it all but were still unhappy. Once again, I  recommend studying the life of the celebrity King Solomon.

1. Self-centredness leads to a lack of fulfilment

There is freedom in being able to give and share with others.  Acts 20:35, ESV ‘… It is more blessed to give than to receive…’

Do you honestly believe the above? Ask yourself how you feel when you give to others. Do you feel like you are losing, or do you feel fulfilled? Do you give grudgingly, or do you give cheerfully? Do you understand that you are more blessed as the giver? This is not just about giving money, but your time and talents. Take some time to evaluate yourself.

As Christians, we pray to be more like Christ. Well, nobody is more generous than Christ. He gave His all for us (Philippians 2) and embodied humility while laying down His life for us. There is nothing we could give in return to equate what He did for us. Do you live a life where you give and don’t expect anything in return? Do you give knowing and understanding that the person you are giving to may never be able to return the favour? But when you live a selfless life rather than a self-centred life, the blessedness associated with giving suffices. Take time to recognise and acknowledge the needs of others as advised by Apostle Paul:

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4, ESV

So, 2024 is here. I encourage you to live selflessly. Anytime you detect greed and self-centredness in your actions, repent of it. God can set us free. We don’t need to live in bondage to our self-centred self. True freedom lies in service to others. Living a selfless life is powerful. Let your song this year be ‘Less of self and more of God’. Like John the Baptist calls out in John 3:30, ESV 

He must increase, but I must decrease

How much of the selfless Christ will be seen at the end of your life? None of us want to look back at our lives, regretting that we lived so much of it for ourselves and extraordinarily little for Jesus. In the end, this is what truly counts. A selfless life is freedom on earth and will result in treasures in heaven.

Shalom.

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