THE CONCEPT AND TRAGEDY OF SELF 2

 We are no longer self-centered about life; we no longer see the world as revolving around us alone. Rather, we become susceptible and affected deeply by the needs of others. It really doesn't matter if one doesn't have the means to help others or solve their problems as you would have liked. But being concerned, and having the willingness to even go as far as sharing what you have, to meet that other person's needs shows that one is dead to self!

A selfish or self centered life is one that really lacks the Agape love of God. You can't say you love God and see your brother hungry and naked, and do nothing about it. The truth is, there are actually some people who are not moved or couldn't care less about the plight of others even in grave circumstances! 

Reaching out in understanding and showing empathy not just sympathy, goes a long way in displaying a genuinely unselfish life. Even if you don't have enough financial and material resources to help others in their predicament, just showing that you care by being present to encourage them, can go a long way in helping that grieving family friend or person in need.

Life becomes creative and interesting when we are full of God's love and not the love of the world. According to Selwyn Hughes, a renowned theologian of blessed memory, he says,

"The whole of life becomes outreaching, this is because love is creative and when the love of God is the motivating energy of our personalities, the movement of our lives is also creative. When there is love, there is always a plus, a margin for someone else. We have bread enough and to spare". 

This is so very true. We become very creative and we find ourselves constantly looking for creative ways to meet others' needs either through our businesses, careers or ministry.

Selwyn Hughes goes further to say in the December 4, 2021 article of the devotional, Every Day with Jesus; it says,

"When we give our lives to Christ, it might feel overwhelming, the thought and responsibility to be His representative to love others and be kind to others. Things we thought ourselves incapable of tackling may feel all too much to take in and to take hold of. But Love, that is Divine Love, provides the strength and the resilience that makes the whole life creative. There are people whose lives were full and unexciting because of selfishness or focusing solely on oneself, who have become other centered or unselfish as they allowed the creative love of God flow in and out. An example is a man who within weeks started three new outreaches for youths in his church in England, UK, as he allowed himself to focus on others rather then on himself and his monochrome life". 

The negative impact of self can be seen all around us. Even in our churches today, there are cases of dishonest dealings amongst church members which shows that the concept of self has eaten deep into the system. This shouldn't be a surprise. Even Jesus Christ our Lord, had to be betrayed by one of His own disciple, Judas Iscariot for God's plan and purpose to be fulfilled. And because of His redemptive work, we can rise from the dungeons of selfishness and self-centeredness to become who we are and were created to be, originally with a heart full of love for God, ourselves and others.

Let's not also forget that Jesus Christ Himself said that in the last days, the love of many shall wax cold. Read the book of Matthew Chapter  24. And this can be seen so glaringly displayed all around us in our homes, offices, schools; the marketplace, government parastatals, and the society at large. There is no love displayed and even if you do see a slight expression of it, it is in the "Eros" state and just full of mere lust! 

The truth is, in these last days, the concept of self has grown in leaps and bounds even beyond the human imagination! All across media and advertising platforms not to mention social media and the internet portals, the concept of self has been magnified, and the human self has become the idol that they worship and celebrate!

At the root of all of this, is the satanic spirit of pride and arrogance which tells man that he doesn't need God or anyone else for that matter to be himself. It is the mainstream of this deadly concept that makes the human being self-reliant, selfish and self-centered.

But like I have mentioned earlier on, a heart full of love for God can't,  and I repeat can't bear the fruits of self. This is simply impossible!

The scripture puts it this way in Deuteronomy 30:6,

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul that thou mayest live. 

A heart full of love for God is the criteria for longevity of life; and where there is no love for God, there can't be love for others. Only the concept of self can rule in the heart that is devoid of the love of God.