Fighting the Temptation of Spiritual Selfishness

 

No matter how good a Sunday Service is, or a prayer meeting or your personal devotion, we know that it will end at a certain time. It may take longer or shorter than usual, but it will surely come to an end. Then you'll go back to where the actual battle is, your life and everything around you.
 

²After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. ⁵Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) ⁷Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” ⁸Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mark 9:2-8 NIV

No tabernacle is big enough to contain the Law, the Prophet and the Gospel. (Moses, Elijah and Jesus Christ); so God brought His tabernacle (cloud that covered them).

As mentioned in this passage, Peter's idea of building a shelter was a result of being "greatly afraid." Sometimes when we are scared, we tend to say or do things we don't really mean. I believe this is what happened to Peter. The thing is, at a glance, it may be viewed as "Spiritual Selfishness."

Spiritual Selfishness

Spiritual selfishness is the desire to keep all good spiritual experience to oneself.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to "make disciples." We must share the gospel.

Spiritual selfishness is when we are ready to share Jesus, yet we choose not to. It is also when we choose not to learn to share Jesus even if we have the capacity to.

In his awe and fear, Peter must have thought of staying in that moment forever.

When we are in the presence of God, we enjoy it. We love being ministered to, but we must never forget the people whom God ministers to through us.


When tempted to become spiritually selfish, let us remember...

... Jesus modeled spiritual generosity.

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mark‬ ‭9:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬

When the cloud has gone, Moses and Elijah left, but not Jesus.
Although He was with people who knew exactly who He is and how to talk with Him, He chose to remain with His disciples. He to trained them, He completed His mission, He did the work.

Imagine if Jesus was spiritually selfish. He would have just left an unfinished business. (Of course this is highly unimaginable. We know He did what He came do and completed it.)

Another instance that Jesus was spiritually generous was when Lazarus died. Here's part of His conversation with His disciples.

⁷and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” ⁸“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” John 11:7-8 NIV

He still went back to Judea to minister even after threats on His own life. Jesus modeled spiritual generosity.

... God confronts spiritual selfishness.

After Jonah did what God wanted him to do and the people of Nineveh repented from their sins, He confronted him about his display of spiritual selfishness.

⁹But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” ¹⁰But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. ¹¹And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Jonah 4:9-11 NIV

God reiterated His concern to people who were ignorant of their sins.

The punishment for their sins is inevitable unless they come to repentance, and since the New Testament, receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

God's desire is for sinners to come to repentance.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

... we fight spiritual selfishness.

How do we fight spiritual selfishness?

Understand that Jesus Christ died for all.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV

Pray for them.
Witness to them.
Reach out to them.

Remember to be guided by God's love.

³²“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 

³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 

Luke 6:32, 35 NIV

We do not love the way the world loves, but the way God taught us to.
Do not sin in the name of love.
You do not let the one you love live in sin or be led to destruction.

Immerse yourself daily into His Presence.

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark‬ ‭9:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬

Listening to Jesus, The Word is more than just reading. It involves evidence of listening - action.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV

Let us do our daily devotion.
Let us read His Word daily.
Let us decide to serve Him and Him alone.

The more we are immersed in God's presence daily, the less time we have to be spiritually selfish.


Conclusion

We fight spiritual selfishness by remaining in God's presence.
There is no way anyone immersed in God's presence would choose not to share Jesus to others.

Heaven is real, so as hell. No matter how much we may disagree with a person, we do not wish for them to go to hell.

In fact, in God's presence, we are moved to win as much people as we can by God's grace.

Spiritual selfishness dies when we are truly renewed by His grace and mercy.

It's Our Turn

 After His resurrection, Jesus met with His disciples and commissioned them. This is especially necessary to be reviewed so we may always be reminded that being saved opens us to discipleship.

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

 

While this passage is for His disciples, Jesus is in its the center, front, and back.

The authority of Jesus.

Jesus died and rose again. He has defeated death. He has proven that nothing is over Him. All authority has been given to Him.

He did His part. He went through all that He came to do. Now salvation is available because of what He has done on the cross.

 

The commission from Jesus.

As the authority, He has the right to commission.

The commission is, 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20a NIV

This is exactly what the disciples did. The book of Acts is full of all they did in obedience to Jesus Christ.

 

The assurance of Jesus.

When Jesus commissioned His disciples to make disciples, He gave them an assurance.

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

He assured them that His presence will go with them.

 

What does the Great Commission have to do with us?

 

Jesus did His part.

Jesus did the hard part. He took the punishment so we don't have to. As His word declares, "It is finished."

After the disciples' first preaching, the people asked what must they do after hearing about Jesus.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 NIV

As His followers, the disciples passed on what they heard and learned. It was passed on and on. As it reached us, it is our turn to preach this same gospel.

 

Jesus expanded the family.

We have been saved when we received Jesus as Lord and Savior. The story becomes more exciting as we become part of His family. We now win people for Him. Even before His death on the cross, He has expressed the truth that there are still others who must be brought to salvation

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:16 NIV

When we became part of God's family through Jesus Christ, the family naturally expanded. This shall continue expanding until Jesus returns.

 

Jesus chose His people.

It was not an accident that the gospel was shared to us, and we were saved. God planned it. Jesus chose us.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16 NIV

This passage must encourage us to keep moving forward by sharing the Good News. Imagine, the God who created all things saw us and said to Himself, "I am choosing these people, and I will use them. They will bear fruit."

 

Conclusion:

Today, the people may hear about Jesus through us, because now, it's our turn.

 

On Social Media

The urge is too great not to respond to something you strongly believe was meant for you, specially when it is something bad and it did not specifically mention your name, but just the very situation you are at.

BUT HEAR ME OUT.

Publicly confronting an unnamed individual anonymously behind one's keyboard is NOT a display of courage. If anything, it is one of the lowest coward moves in today's generation.

A truly strong, brave, loving, courageous individual would confront in private. His/Her goal is to mend, not worsen an already bad situation.

So, IF you would listen, this is my advice. Or you can stop reading here.

Do not respond the way they want you to. Do not fall into their trap. If they did not name you, do not assume it was you. For they can easily say, they were not talking about you. (One of the lowest coward moves, remember?)

Instead, move on with your life. Keep doing what you are doing. Your real friends, your family, the ones who really love you will say something if there is any concern about your attitude. Consider what they say. You don't have to believe it right away, but if you count them as closest to you, or if you discern sincerity in them, at least give it a thought.

You are loved. Remember that.

People's opinion of you becomes a background noise that can be cancelled when you know who you are in GOD.

Jesus Christ died for you. You are loved. Remember that.

May the power of the Holy Spirit strengthen your patience and self-control, so you may never engage in an ugly battle where no one wins.

Lastly, because God loves us, may we be able to declare by actions, words, and thoughts, "I love You, too, Lord."

As posted on my facebook profile:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Eoey6K7i/