Character… What Can Kill It? #1 – Self-centeredness!
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26:12.
* We are starting the season of Lent on March 1 with the Ash Wednesday celebration. As we think about the sacrifice the Son of God made for us, we also take time to reflect on what is in need of change in us. During the next weeks we will be looking at character killers so that we can make the necessary adjustments in our life under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Is our character in harmony with Christ? Is it being corroded by bad habits, by worldly principles, by self-centeredness?
* We live in a world where “selfie” has become the word of the year. A “selfie culture” is one in which people take a lot of pictures of themselves, but somehow it can also demonstrate an obsession with self-expression, self-promotion and selfcenteredness. It is evidenced by the proliferation of the posts on social media. The Bible was written before the advent of camera phones, but God’s Word still has plenty to say about one’s view of self.
* I do not think that there is anything intrinsically wrong with taking a selfie and sharing it with others. But the “selfie culture”, can be, (AND I REPEAT) can be a sign of narcissism (self-worship). Need yourself to appear thinner before posting? There’s an app for that!
* The selfie mentality seems to find a boldness and arrogance behind the camera that would probably not be expressed in person. By posting selfies, any person can taste a bit of fame. Oh, it is soooo… addicting! However, this obsession can impact self-worth and true relationships when personal value is based upon the number of “likes,” followers, replies, or comments received in response.
* Do you remember what John the Baptist said about himself and His relationship with Jesus? Even though Jesus considered John “the greatest in the kingdom of God” (Luke 7:28), John said about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease” John 3:30. Jesus was clear about being selfish… self-centered. Don’t give room for it in your life if you are a follower of MINE! You and I are called to be servants.
* Jesus’ life was the antithesis of the selfie culture’s obsession with self. Whenever the people tried to make Jesus king, He slipped away from them and went to a lonely place to pray (John 6:15).
* Paul also reminds us that we need to fight the urge of self-promotion. In Galatians 5:24 he says: “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
* We cannot allow the “selfie culture" to creep into the church either, and there create a “selfie Christianity.” It can easily destroy our character, our unity, & our doctrine. If that happens, instead of God being the absolute #1, and loving our neighbor as ourselves, we become selfabsorbed, abandon the cross and take the throne away from whom it legitimately belongs.
* The battle cries of “selfie Christianity” sounds like this: “God thinks you are awesome! Follow your dreams! Speak positively, promote self and God will bless you!” That is false gospel - HERESY. Don’t follow it. Psalm 119:36 says, “Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain.” Someone said, “the smallest package in the world is a person wrapped up in himself.”
* Selfies… are ok. Go ahead and post them for others to see you, but maintain your humility, modesty and morality. The other day I saw a comic strip where a person says to another: “Now I know what to give you for Christmas.” “How come?” asks the other person. “I saw your selfies and your posts on social media… I am getting you clothes and a dictionary!”
* From an unknown source comes an article titled, "How To Be Miserable." It says, "Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Use "I" as often as possible. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Expect to be appreciated. Be suspicious. Be jealous and envious. Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself. Insist on consideration and respect. Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them. Never forget a service you have rendered. Shirk your duties if you can. Do as little as possible for others."
* Don’t let self-centeredness/selfishness destroy your character. Lent… time to reflect, time to repent (actually time to repent is every day…) time to… Maybe it is also time to reconsider what you and I will do with this self-centered… I mean, “selfie culture.”
* God bless us all. Your pastor, Don Sonntag
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26:12.
* We are starting the season of Lent on March 1 with the Ash Wednesday celebration. As we think about the sacrifice the Son of God made for us, we also take time to reflect on what is in need of change in us. During the next weeks we will be looking at character killers so that we can make the necessary adjustments in our life under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Is our character in harmony with Christ? Is it being corroded by bad habits, by worldly principles, by self-centeredness?
* We live in a world where “selfie” has become the word of the year. A “selfie culture” is one in which people take a lot of pictures of themselves, but somehow it can also demonstrate an obsession with self-expression, self-promotion and selfcenteredness. It is evidenced by the proliferation of the posts on social media. The Bible was written before the advent of camera phones, but God’s Word still has plenty to say about one’s view of self.
* I do not think that there is anything intrinsically wrong with taking a selfie and sharing it with others. But the “selfie culture”, can be, (AND I REPEAT) can be a sign of narcissism (self-worship). Need yourself to appear thinner before posting? There’s an app for that!
* The selfie mentality seems to find a boldness and arrogance behind the camera that would probably not be expressed in person. By posting selfies, any person can taste a bit of fame. Oh, it is soooo… addicting! However, this obsession can impact self-worth and true relationships when personal value is based upon the number of “likes,” followers, replies, or comments received in response.
* Do you remember what John the Baptist said about himself and His relationship with Jesus? Even though Jesus considered John “the greatest in the kingdom of God” (Luke 7:28), John said about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease” John 3:30. Jesus was clear about being selfish… self-centered. Don’t give room for it in your life if you are a follower of MINE! You and I are called to be servants.
* Jesus’ life was the antithesis of the selfie culture’s obsession with self. Whenever the people tried to make Jesus king, He slipped away from them and went to a lonely place to pray (John 6:15).
* Paul also reminds us that we need to fight the urge of self-promotion. In Galatians 5:24 he says: “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
* We cannot allow the “selfie culture" to creep into the church either, and there create a “selfie Christianity.” It can easily destroy our character, our unity, & our doctrine. If that happens, instead of God being the absolute #1, and loving our neighbor as ourselves, we become selfabsorbed, abandon the cross and take the throne away from whom it legitimately belongs.
* The battle cries of “selfie Christianity” sounds like this: “God thinks you are awesome! Follow your dreams! Speak positively, promote self and God will bless you!” That is false gospel - HERESY. Don’t follow it. Psalm 119:36 says, “Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain.” Someone said, “the smallest package in the world is a person wrapped up in himself.”
* Selfies… are ok. Go ahead and post them for others to see you, but maintain your humility, modesty and morality. The other day I saw a comic strip where a person says to another: “Now I know what to give you for Christmas.” “How come?” asks the other person. “I saw your selfies and your posts on social media… I am getting you clothes and a dictionary!”
* From an unknown source comes an article titled, "How To Be Miserable." It says, "Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Use "I" as often as possible. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Expect to be appreciated. Be suspicious. Be jealous and envious. Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself. Insist on consideration and respect. Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them. Never forget a service you have rendered. Shirk your duties if you can. Do as little as possible for others."
* Don’t let self-centeredness/selfishness destroy your character. Lent… time to reflect, time to repent (actually time to repent is every day…) time to… Maybe it is also time to reconsider what you and I will do with this self-centered… I mean, “selfie culture.”
* God bless us all. Your pastor, Don Sonntag