October 12, 2023
Topic: SELFISHNESS
Text: Genesis 13:5-18
Memory Verse: 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).
To be selfish is to lack consideration for other people, to be concerned only with one’s own personal profit, comfort or pleasure. It is not an easily visible flaw because it has its roots in motives, which are not known to others. It is characterized both by unwillingness to share what you have with others and by the desire to seek personal gains to the loss and detriment of others.
In our passage today, we see the example of Abraham who selflessly asked his nephew, Lot to choose what part of the land he wished to possess. Even though Abraham was the elder and by right, he should have chosen first and he was the one with the covenant that brought them both the fortune that now created the conflict, he deferred to his nephew, not considering his own interests and gave him the first choice. Lot on the other hand, motivated by his selfishness, “…looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord………so Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan ……….and pitched his tents near Sodom” (Genesis 13:10-12). He took the best portion of the land and did not defer the first choice to his uncle or consider the one who had shown him great kindness and by whose covenant relationship with God he too had become wealthy. Eventually, his selfish choice put him in the path of God’s wrath because of the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Selfishness is contrary to God’s nature, which we see modeled in Jesus when He laid down His life, taking our punishment so that we may be beneficiaries of eternal life. We have nothing to lose by being selfless and preferring others above ourselves because God who sees in secret the intentions of the heart, will reward us openly. Like we see in the example of Abraham (Genesis 13:14-6), when we relate to others motivated by God’s love, forsaking our own interests to glorify God and advance the wellbeing of others, it pleases God and opens new doors for Him to pour down His blessings upon us.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, forgive my selfish ways and help me to be selfless like you, preferring others and promoting their interests above my own. Amen.