FREEDOM FROM SELFISHNESS

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

One selfish member of a family can spoil the closeness of the entire family. The other members of the family say, “All that he ever thinks about is himself.”

This same cause of damage is broadened when members of a church say the same thing about one or more of its members. It is common knowledge that much harm has come into the Kingdom of God through divisions in churches created by a selfish spirit.

A person can create grief for himself by having a selfish spirit. In Romans 7:7-13 Paul speaks of his covetousness—a common result of selfishness. He says that he died because of covetousness. He uses “died” to express the depth of grief his selfishness brought to him.

Probably many believers grieve over their acts of selfishness and passionately desire to be filled with love rather than selfishness. We can have that change of spirit.

Galatians 5:19-20 says that selfishness is a work of the flesh. This means that it comes into our lives as a result of our “know-it-all” attitude that we all inherited from Adam.

Second Corinthians 5:14-15 teaches that a believer’s problem with selfishness was successfully dealt with when we were spiritually crucified with Christ at Calvary.

This means that all believers can have freedom from a selfish spirit by experiencing their oneness with Christ.