Selfishness

1. Selfishness II Timothy 3:2-5

2. 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 5:7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

3. Selfish Agenda 1. Who does selfish benefit? 2. Who does selfless benefit? 3. God as an example of selflessness.

4. 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

5. St. Basil’s Cathedral • Commissioned by Ivan IV (Ivan the terrible) • Had architect’s eyes removed so no other like it could be made.

6. 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.

7. 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 burnt-offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a freewill-offering, or in your set feasts, to make a sweet savor unto Jehovah, of the herd, or of the flock;

8. 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 meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. • What have we done with it today?

9. 2. Who does selfless benefit? • Less self, not looking at what is good for yourself. Luke 10:25-37Good Samaritan • Was the Samaritan benefited? Money, status, or gratefulness? Luke 6:31-34 Not looking for what you can get out of it.

10. 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

11. Who does God expect me to be? Genesis 50:15-21 • Recognized what God expected of him. Mark 9:33-37 • How God defines greatness: To serve others.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.