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Selfishness is the common cause of most of our problems,

Selfishness is the common cause of most of our problems,. and Selflessness is God’s answer for them. What is selfishness ?. According to Oscar Wilde , “Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.” Almost…

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Selfishness is the common cause of most of our problems,

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  1. Selfishness is the common cause of most of our problems, and Selflessness is God’s answer for them.

  2. What is selfishness? • According to Oscar Wilde, “Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.” Almost… • Instead, and more specifically, selfishness is expecting and or demanding that others conform to, help, and provide you with the ability to live as you want to live. • And sorry, ladies, but Jane Austen also missed it when she wrote, “Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure.”

  3. How is selfishnessthe common cause of most of our problems… • With our Spouses? • Marriages are most pleasing (to God and us) when the participants truly enjoy meeting each other’s needs. • Such is the nature of true agapelove, Eph.5:25-27. • Think: What are the most common “problem areas” in marriage? • Studies consistently say: Sex, Money, and In-Laws (usually in that order by the way). • Each partner is more concerned with their own needs, wants, or desires over those of their spouse.

  4. How is selfishnessthe common cause of most of our problems… • With our Friends and Acquaintances? • If, “The only consistent feature of all your dissatisfying relationships is you,”selfishness may be the culprit! • Would your friends/acquaintances describe you as: • Demandingor generous? • Takingor giving? • Dominatingor equitable? • Controllingor liberating? • Needyor empathetic? • Abusiveor compassionate? • Judgmentalor supportive? If the former, they might say… Are you Selfishor Selflesstoward your friends? Matt.7:12 1Pet.3:8-9

  5. How is selfishnessthe common cause of most of our problems… • With our Brethren? • By insisting on “my way” in matters of judgment, Rom.14; 15:1-7 • By being unwilling to be “wronged” or “defrauded,” 1Cor.6:1-8 • By taking a “me first” attitude, Phil.2:1-4 • By being so “selfishly ambitious” as to cause “disorder and every evil thing,” Jas.3:13-18 How many localfellowships are prevented or destroyed by simple selfishness? Eph.4:29 – 5:2

  6. How is selfishnessthe common cause of most of our problems… • With our God? • Whose willreally dominates your life: Yoursor His? • His, unlessit disagrees with yours? • His, if it isn’t too difficult or demanding? • His, as long as things go well and you still get most everything you want in and from life? (cf. Job) How many personal relationships/fellowships with God have been abandoned or destroyed because God didn’t do what I thought He should have done (usually to or for me), which equals simple selfishness?

  7. How is selfishnessthe common cause of most of our problems? Now do we see…. Since we started with a couple of quotes from famous people regarding “selfishness,” let’s end with one more: William Ewart Gladstone(1809-1898), who served as the British Prime Minister four separate times, said, “Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race.” If we’re going to put any stock in human quotes, Mr. Gladstone was the one who got it right, because: Selflessness is God’s wayto happiness and heaven, but selfishnessis Satan’s way of getting us to destroy our relationships with our spouses, friends, brethren, and with God!

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