SelfishnessII Timothy 3:2-5

SelfishOnly addressed directly one time. (II Timothy 3:2)

But attitudes of people and examples found throughout.Bible focuses upon NOT being selfish.Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Selfish Agenda1. Who does selfish benefit?

2. Who does selfless benefit?

3. God as an example of selflessness.

1. Who does selfish benefit?Answer is in the word itself:Self

How does that benefit me?Acts 5:1-6 Ananias & Sapphirajealousygreedlies

St. Basils CathedralCommissioned by Ivan IV (Ivan the terrible)Had architects eyes removed so no other like it could be made.

How does the Church benefit me?Attitude some people have.I need: A big band, entertainment, social groups, people my age, a famous preacher, opulent facility with huge parking, and bumper stickers.People need to think about me.No room to serve God.

Numbers 15:2-3Num 15:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you, Num 15:3 and will make an offering by fire unto Jehovah, a burnt-offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a freewill-offering, or in your set feasts, to make a sweet savor unto Jehovah, of the herd, or of the flock;

Amos 5:21-22800 Years later

Amo 5:21 I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Amo 5:22 Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.What have we done with it today?

2. Who does selfless benefit? Less self, not looking at what is good for yourself.Luke 10:25-37 Good SamaritanWas the Samaritan benefited? Money, status, or gratefulness?

Luke 6:31-34 Not looking for what you can get out of it.

Do unto othersRomans 13:8-10 Love thy neighbor as thyselfEphesians 4:31-32 be ye kind to one anotherPhilipians 2:3-4 counting others better than himself;Colossians 3:13 forgiving each other

Who does God expect me to be?Genesis 50:15-21Recognized what God expected of him.Mark 9:33-37How God defines greatness: To serve others.

3. God as an example of selflessness.Luke 6:35-36 But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.God sets the bar high.

Jesus as an exampleMatthew 20:28 Jesus came to serve and give His life.Php 2:5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Php 2:6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, Php 2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; Php 2:8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

God has called you to serveAct 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Good evening. Topic tonight is selfishness. Looked upon as something childish but even adults get selfish and some even take it too far.Something we all need to deal with in our lives at one time or another. Something we are all guilty of.

Bible can help us, keep us in check and teach us how not to be selfish.

In my research found it addressed directly only once.You do find the attitudes & examples throughout.

Bible focuses on how NOT to be selfish.As it says in the beatitudes:These people who show mercy to others.Selfish Agenda tonight, were going to look at:

1. Who2. Who3. God as example...What good does selfishness do anyone?Answer is in word itself: SelfThat is what a lot people say even before doing anything and it is a major motivator to many.

What do I get out of it? W/O incentive a lot of people wont do any act of kindness without getting something in return.

Acts 5:1-6, example of Ananias & Sapphira.Jealousy: first saw the prestige received from giving money.Greed: Still wanted to keep money and receive prestige: have cake and eat it too.Lies: Lied to God and Holy Spirit

All because he wanted it all, what was good for himself.Heard of St. Basils Cathedral in Russia (?) : In my class-Commissioned by, Ivan IVRumored that removed eyes so no one else would have a castle like his. Found out it may not be true.But I wouldnt put it past people. Lots of people have done worse out of selfishness. Consider pyramids of Egypt. Built on lots of peoples blood and lives.All for tomb of one man who claimed he was a god.Some people come to the church with that attitude.Wont go to church unless:I remember church called compound in Asheville. Bumper stickers to show where they went to church.Or they just think that everybody needs to have their attention on me. People need to care about and worry about me. Without looking to see if someone else needs help or maybe worse off.

Gets filled up with all these things. No room to serve God.

How God originally commanded it.Around 800 years later, what people had become and what God thought of what they offered.

After time and wandering away from Gods teachings, getting what they wanted.Its been around 2000 years since creation of church.Are we in danger of that today?What have we done with it today?Less self, taking self out of the equation and thinking of others whether or not you get something out of it.Lots of people look on it with awe, but dont want to follow example.-Good Samaritan story. What did he get out of it?-Jesus teaches what we should be looking for.Do unto others. Repeated several different ways throughout scripture.How we should be treating each other.

Considering these, who does God expect me to be?Genesis: Joseph, in perfect position to take revenge and simply sit back in his luxurious palace. Instead he saw what God in His mercy wanted done and Joseph did it.Mark 9:33-37, this is how God defines greatness.Look at what God does.He sets the bar high. Ever thought about someone you really dont like, and consider being truly good to them? What would you expect back from them?Jesus shows us His love. And His life of service.Like the way Philipians says it.God has called you to serve. Called me with His word and as Acts says, anyone.Not Ashley Heights doctrine or some religion as world knows it, but God, creator of the world.Come to learn from God, His ways and receive from Him, eternal life.Must be on Gods terms, baptized. Read it just what early Christians read, just what disciples heard from Jesus, who heard it from God.