The Selfish Servant
To be a servant we must be someone who performs duties for others, and most of the time it is one who is a devoted or helpful individual.
To be selfish you are a person lacking in consideration for others, and primarily concerned with personal profit or pleasure.
So you can see the definitions of the two words seem to contradict one another. So a selfish servant is a person who performs duties for others without consideration of them while looking for personal pleasure or profit.
Let that sink in for a second. So a person comes to help you move but is really only there so that you will help them, or to be seen. A person who loans you money only to hold it over your head in the future. Do these things sound familiar? We can all think of individuals who have done something like this to us in our own lives. Maybe that person is us. Maybe we have done something for personal gain. Honey I’m gonna clean the dishes tonight only to hold it over their head for something you wanted later. Gonna go hang with the boys peace out.
It’s similar to a quid pro quo. I’m gonna do this for you in exchange for you doing this for me. Sounds like Messiah right? No!
So let’s look at what selfishness brings us.
James 3:16 states For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
This is a passage normally that we read right over. But think about that. Where selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. Well we know God is all about order. From the leaders, to the instructions of how to atone for sins, how to approach god. The Bible is an instructional manual on how to live a life of order in the courts of the Lord. What about every evil thing?
Deuteronomy 17:12
1 Timothy 6:10
Genesis 6:5-7
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Matthew 5:29-30
Isaiah 59:7
The Bible tells us to run from evil and to purge it from Israel. So what is evil?
Galatians 5:16-
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh [g]sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you [h]please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: [i]immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, [j]factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who [k]belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also [l]walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Hold on a second, any of us caused strife? Have we been jealous? Anger? Envying? The Bible says that is the work of the flesh. We cannot carry the desires of the flesh because it sets us against the Spirit of God.
So if we read if selfishness is fleshly and we are acting selfish in our actions we are in a place where jealousy, anger, envying, strife and other ungodly things are all at play. Our selfishness causes us to disobey God and open the door to every evil thing.
So by acting this way we are like Adam who just sinned against God. Hiding in the Garden and the Lord is calling. Hey where are you? Over here God hiding. Why are you hiding. I’m naked. My flesh is exposed. What a second. Isn’t our flesh supposed to be died to? Shouldn’t we want to expose our flesh in order to find healing?
Let’s get honest for a second, let’s open our chests. The adversary isn’t going to cause problems in this community. He simply doesn’t have the power. But I will. You will. We challenge others with our righteousness all the while tucking our sin in our back pocket acting like it doesn’t exist. Leader’s who serve only for their fleshly desires are worthless. They should be exposed, repent, and driven out of their lofty positions. True leaders don’t take lofty positions.
The Science Journal wrote-
Selfishness isn't something we have much control over. In truth, it is a natural, instinctive emotion that everyone experiences at one point or another. The problem with jealousy is that it masks other feelings and attitudes that are even more hurtful to us and those closest to us. Its intensity is often shielding deep-seated feelings of possessiveness, insecurity or shame. I believe that what lies at the heart of jealousy very often isn't the threat itself, but a drive we have within us to torment ourselves and berate ourselves with self-critical thoughts.
Science references selfishness as natural and instinctive. You know what else is natural? To die. It’s time we die to ourselves. Daily.
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
Our Spirit has a natural and instinctive desire to be one with God but only if we put God first in our life. Why do you do what you do? For yourself or because it is what God has commanded you to do? If you want to honor yourself there is a whole world out there that will atta boy you, if you want to honor God it’s time to understand you are gonna get beat. Your reward is great but it may not be now.
I know it seems like I am always talking about Messiah being crucified. But there is no greater work than the work of the resurrection of Messiah. You have victory over your flesh, you must claim it, you must own it. If you have relationships you have killed because of your flesh you must die to yourself and fix it. Own the victory Messiah paid for you and walk with that charge. The charge to serve others not out of your own vain desires, not out of jealousy, or envy, know your role and be the best. Not for yourself but for the BEST....... For God.