Breaking the Power of Selfishness

Continuing in the  “Coming Home” series, Pastor Hurmon addresses how we deal with selfishness, that is, being concerned exclusively with oneself with no regard for the welfare of others. Everyone has been selfish from time to time, and followers of Jesus should both be forgiving of ourselves for this, and also strive to be less selfish.

Selfishness causes us to be self-absorbed, lack empathy, to treat others as only needs to be met, creates in us a false sense of entitlement, gives us an excessive focus on material acquisitions and self promotion. Ultimately, selfishness often makes us end up alone, because selfish people tend to fear criticism and act unkindly.

Selfishness is the opposite of the love of Jesus and so, as disciples of Jesus, we must become less selfish. We cannot live by our desires alone, but must examine them and ask whether they are good. In order to escape the grip of selfishness, we need to distinguish desire from love, ask what our desires are consistent with God’s love, and conform our actions with God’s love, and not only our desires.