Self-Centeredness

SELF-CENTEREDNESS

1 Corinthians 1:26: "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth."

He who is full of himself is likely to be quite empty.

Conceit is the quicksand of success.

He who sings his own praises seldom gets the right pitch.

Can you relate to some of these? I know I can. In the quiet of my mind, I think this way - not always, but it happens. This is where self-centeredness starts - in the mind. At work ... "they couldn't do all this if I wasn't here." In sports ... "if it wasn't for me we probably wouldn't win a game. With friends ... "boy, are they blessed that I'm here." Sounds conceited, doesn't it? That's because it is. An ill-grounded opinion of one's own importance. That's sin - bottom line. We, I, must recognize it as that. When God called us, me, to where He has us/me, it was into fellowship, not one's own ship (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Consider those who wanted to make a name for themselves in building the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). They thought by doing this they could impress God and not be scattered over the face of the earth. They used brick instead of stone . . . which is a weaker material. Tar instead of mortar. They were relying on themselves, not God.

For the past few years, God has allowed me to share His Word in many different venues. When I started to rely on myself - a weaker vessel, much weaker - and not the stone or rock of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-7), I began to come apart or be scattered. Just as those who rejected stone in building the tower of Babel were scattered, when I rejected the Cornerstone of my faith, I came tumbling down (Matthew 7:24-27).

There is no upgrade with Jesus. He is the One. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). I had to learn that lesson the hard way. Never forget that when you know that Jesus is all you need, Jesus is all you will have. And when Jesus is all you have, you will know that Jesus is all you need. - Anonymous

GREAT QUOTE: "True faith cannot exist without love -- it works by love.
The views of faith cause the love of God to be shed abroad in the soul, and a sense of his love enkindles ours. "We love him because he first loved us." God is love. This is the brightest and most amiable aspect of his character; and when that divine excellence is manifested in unparalleled love to us, it cannot but produce a powerful effect in winning the affections, and drawing forth the heart in returns of love to him, 'who has loved us and given himself for us' ... The cross becomes the great point of attraction to the believer, and the center of his warmest affections. From this point radiate the brightest rays of the divine glory. From the cross go forth the most potent influences to conquer the world, and to draw all men to the Savior. The regenerate man lives by faith upon his crucified Redeemer...The new life inspired in regeneration is a life of dependence -- of entire dependence upon Christ. The love of God in Christ is the animating principle of the new creature. But graces rise not alone, they cluster together, and mutually support and adorn each other. Faith works by love; faith and love united generate hope; for the good which is loved and looked for, is not present but future. And when hope rises to assurance it brings forth joy; and a sense of God's favor, and confidence in his mercy and protection fills the soul with abiding peace; a peace which the world cannot give, but which Christ often breathes into the hearts of his disciples." Archibald Alexander, The Princeton Theological Review, 1836