No one likes to think of themselves as self-centered - but we are all self-centered at times.
Self-centered is more than we commonly think in regard to it. Self-centered means that whatever happens in my world is about ME.
As a child, if dad comes home for work and is in a bad mood, the child doesn’t think “Dad must have had a bad day.” The child thinks, “I wonder what I did to make Dad mad.”
In a self-centered world, all of the actions, attitudes, and speech in my world are a reflection on me. If a person is harsh with me, it must be my fault, something I did - not that they are being unkind.
This self-centered mindset enters into all relationships. In marriage, it means that I see whatever my spouse does is about me. If my spouse is irritable, I have done something OR he is purposefully being mean to me. I don't consider that he might have something happening to him that is causing the irritability.
We carry that over to relationships with friends or family members. If my parents brag on my sister's kids that means that they like them more than my kids. I don't consider that they brag on my kids to my sister or others. It might be that they like to brag on their grandkids.
SELF'S ORIGIN ……
When the Fall in Genesis 3 happened, “self” became dominant.
Man and woman became self-centered, self-conscious, selfish, and other self’s.
When Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptation in the garden, they chose to believe the lie of the enemy that they could be their own god.
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
When the Fall in Genesis 3 happened, “self” became dominant.
Man and woman became self-centered, self-conscious, selfish, and other self’s.
When Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptation in the garden, they chose to believe the lie of the enemy that they could be their own god.
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
[Genesis 3:6]
They decided to please themselves, rather than to please God. From that point on, every child is born self-centered. [see more on this on the next post]
God, through the power of His Word and His Spirit, seeks to move us away from the self life.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
They decided to please themselves, rather than to please God. From that point on, every child is born self-centered. [see more on this on the next post]
God, through the power of His Word and His Spirit, seeks to move us away from the self life.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
[Philippians 2:3-4]
No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
[1 Corinthians 10:24]
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
[Galatians 2:20]
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
[Romans 12:10 ESV]
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
[John 15:13]
As believers we are either centered on man or centered on God.
There is no alternative.
Either God is the center of our universe and
we have become rightly adjusted to Him,
or we have made ourselves the center and
are attempting to make all else orbit around us and for us.
Author Unknown
See the next post about moving your center.
