4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Selfishness is a lack of love, because love doesn't seek it's own. Love is not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrong.
How I know that I am selfish
- Impatience
- Unkindness
- Envy
- Boastful
- Proud
- Dishonouring others
- Self seeking
- Easily angered
- Keeping records of wrong
Verse 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
When we delight in evil, it is selfishness at work in us.
Verse 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
This is what love does, but selfishness is the opposite.
- It does not protect
- It always distrusts
- Always hopeless
- It doesn't persevere
Selfishness is a true lack of love for others
Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[a] There is no commandment greater than these.”
Jesus commands that we love our neighbours as ourselves. Not any less but as we would love ourselves.
God expects us to honour Him by treating others the way we would love to be treated in the various circumstances.
Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves
God commands us to do nothing out of selfishness. Instead, He recommends that we be humble enough to value others above us.
We should give others priority above us. This is not slavery or abuse, but a choice we make to honour others.
1 Cor 10:24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
This is what God desires that we do, seeking the good of others.
James 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Selfishness is the source of disorder and every evil practice
Rom 15:2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
Instead of being selfish, God requires that we be the ones to build our neighbours up.
Prov 11:24 A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Our focus should move from a self centered view to building and refreshing neighbours that God brings our way.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
To overcome selfishness, I have to be crucified daily with Christ.
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