THE CONCEPT AND TRAGEDY OF SELF

 Self is having a strong desire, feeling and concern towards, or for yourself. In other words, it is a high level of engrossment of oneself in terms of well being in every aspect of life. It is a state of totally being engrossed in oneself both internally and externally in a state of self-centeredness and selfishness. 

This concept does not embrace the thoughts or activities, or actions which show love, kindness or concern for the next person or neighbor. Rather, it abhors all rational reasoning, and it is alien to the 'selfless' or 'love your neighbour' concept .

Self or selfishness is very common in man, and it rules the way he thinks or reasons; the way he talks and what he says; the way he acts which ultimately defines his character. This adeptly describes the unregenerate man or simply put, the unbeliever, who can't walk beyond the concept of self. It is not in his nature to do so. And so, everything he thinks, says or does is self derivative. It must be geared towards satisfying himself or herself, and not the other person.

But this is not supposed to be the case. 

The Bible says in Mark 12:30-31, And thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, this is the first commandment. And the second is like namely this, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these. 

Originally, man was designed by God to be 'other-centered' and not self-centered. But by the reason of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden because of his disobedience to God's instruction about not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam, the first man God created fell from grace and the highest form of intelligence which God had endowed him with, in all of its ramifications: spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. He began to slowly die. This also included his ability to think about and care for others besides himself.

But thanks be unto God who already has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus ( 1 Corinthians 15:57).

From the passage of scripture I have mentioned above, it shows that by the redemption of our souls, through Jesus Christ, we have gained victory over the enemy, who is called satan; death and hell. And I would like to include here too, self. As a believer, redeemed by the finished work of Christ on the cross at Calvary, it is highly impossible to remain selfish and continue down the path of selfishness!

Where love begins, is when we acknowledge the scripture which says: God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:8).We can love God and other human beings because He first loved us. The moment we acknowledge and accept His love into our hearts, our selfish tendencies begin to die a natural death and all forms of self-centeredness begin to dwindle slowly away.