"In the last days, men will be selfish" (2 Tim 3:2).
Man by nature is a lover of his own self. It is a God-given instinct whereby he keeps himself well and protects himself. But when it overshoots, it becomes the sin of selfishness. A child grabs the entire cake and sweeps it into his lap. We chide the child, "Don't be selfish, share it with your brothers and sisters." When that is done, he gets a piece. That is the difference between self-centredness and loving oneself.
As we approach the end times, we see people becoming avaricious. Writing to his young protege Timothy, Paul says, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves" (2 Tim 3:1,2). Study the context. What does the "But" stand for? The context is, Paul talking about people who were taken captive by the devil to do his will (2:25,26). So we understand that egoistic people are in a trap, hooked by the devil and bound to do his will, wanting more and more.
When King Saul deviated from God's way, the Holy Spirit left him and a distressing spirit troubled him (1 Sam 16:14). So Saul became a captive of the devil to do as per his desires and became greedy. Knowing that David was God's choice, anointed to sit on the throne after him, he became jealous and tried to slash him out of the way selfishly so that Jonathan his son could become the king (1 Sam 20:31). But Moses did not groom his sons to take over the leadership, because he did not see the potential in them (Judg 18:30,31 - Jonathan the grandson of Moses became the priest of idols); but magnanimously made Joshua, God's choice, who exhibited leadership qualities, the leader.
In the cutthroat competitive world, there is an unbelievable demand among youth for M.B.B.S. seats. In the interview, with no guilt, they say, "I want to serve the people." But Mission Hospitals are closing down for want of doctors. Only a few choose to serve in remote areas. David's unbridled affection for fellow officer Uriah's wife was selfishness. He had many wives but did not consider the feelings of a cheated husband. The Ten Commandments clearly state that desiring to possess what belongs to someone else is sin. On the other hand Nehemiah gave up privileges that belonged to him as the Governor, because the people were already under heavy burden (Neh 5:14-18).
"Who among us is the greatest?" was the disciples' contention (Mk 9:34). James and John wanted the left and right hand seats of Jesus in His kingdom! (10:37). Do you see yourself here? A man wanted Jesus to tell his brother to divide the property with him (Lk 12:13). So the brother greedily cheated his brother of his share of the property, disregarding him. But Zacchaeus sets an example for us. He was amassing wealth probably by cheating people. But when he was converted, he opened his hands to bless the poor (19:1-8). His avarice was wiped clean
Jesus is our best model. He came not to be served but to serve (Mk 10:45). If He had been selfish where would we be? He was a Servant King. A leader washes the feet of his subordinates. The love of power is the love of yourself. When you write a letter to your subordinate, can you sign at the bottom, "Your servant"? Though Jesus was rich, He became poor by denying Himself the luxury of His heavenly riches, that we may become rich (2 Cor 8:9). The apostles followed His model and made many rich, though they themselves were poor (6:10).
If we have two houses do we dare sell one and give to the poor? Or atleast allow a poor family to live there without rent? That's what the early believers did (Acts 2:45; 4:34-37). Paul was not eagerly looking into the offering box to see if anybody had dropped a jewel. He worked to earn his bread and supported others too. He taught us altruism by his model. He also reminds us of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Act 20:33-35).
At age 53, John D. Rockefeller became very ill and could digest only some milk and crackers. He realised he could not take anything to the next world. He wrote off his wealth to hospitals, research and Mission work. He started improving and lived to be 98. He began to attend church and cleaned the church until he died. We grow old. Then we think about God in our sick bed. We will wonder why we hoarded things and built such a big house and why we cheated others. Now is the time to give away. One of BYM's missionaries, Dr. Jaishankar, when asked why he was not thinking of building a house, replied, "My home is in heaven." How happy he would be in his heavenly abode now! He taught us that the most important things in life are not things.
Greed breaks relationships and makes you egotistical, narcissistic and only interested in yourself. Self-seeking leads to confusion and every evil thing (Js 3:16). Like a leech it keeps demanding and is never satisfied with what it has (Prov 30:15). In contrast, love does not seek its own (1 Cor 13:5). Paul admonishes, "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others" (Phil 2:4). Let us practise self-denial and be magnanimous to the less privileged.
All human relationships have rough patches. Even in family life, if we are unselfish, there will be peace. If "I" is replaced by "we," even illness becomes wellness. Unselfish people forgive and bend down to ask for forgiveness. They serve and not expect to be served. They love without expecting anything in return. Submitting to one another becomes easy. Appreciating someone does not show his greatness but your own; demeaning someone does not show his meanness but your own. Love isn't divided when it is shared, it grows larger.
The prayers of Moses and Paul are classic examples of unselfishness. Both were prepared to be abased that others may be exalted (Exo 32:32; Rom 9:3). The mania to succeed is a good thing perverted. John the Baptist's desire was, "I must decrease." "Happy is the man who at the end of his life possesses only what he has given to others," said Armando Fuentes Aguirre. A day will come when we will be rewarded not for what we had but for what we gave away. George Washington Carver was a famous black American. He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honour in being helpful to the world.Let us not be found "Lover of self" in these last days, but be one of the persons who make the world a better place.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
"In the last days, men will be selfish" (2 Tim 3:2).
Man by nature is a lover of his own self. It is a God-given instinct whereby he keeps himself well and protects himself. But when it overshoots, it becomes the sin of selfishness. A child grabs the entire cake and sweeps it into his lap. We chide the child, "Don't be selfish, share it with your brothers and sisters." When that is done, he gets a piece. That is the difference between self-centredness and loving oneself.
As we approach the end times, we see people becoming avaricious. Writing to his young protege Timothy, Paul says, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves" (2 Tim 3:1,2). Study the context. What does the "But" stand for? The context is, Paul talking about people who were taken captive by the devil to do his will (2:25,26). So we understand that egoistic people are in a trap, hooked by the devil and bound to do his will, wanting more and more.
When King Saul deviated from God's way, the Holy Spirit left him and a distressing spirit troubled him (1 Sam 16:14). So Saul became a captive of the devil to do as per his desires and became greedy. Knowing that David was God's choice, anointed to sit on the throne after him, he became jealous and tried to slash him out of the way selfishly so that Jonathan his son could become the king (1 Sam 20:31). But Moses did not groom his sons to take over the leadership, because he did not see the potential in them (Judg 18:30,31 - Jonathan the grandson of Moses became the priest of idols); but magnanimously made Joshua, God's choice, who exhibited leadership qualities, the leader.
In the cutthroat competitive world, there is an unbelievable demand among youth for M.B.B.S. seats. In the interview, with no guilt, they say, "I want to serve the people." But Mission Hospitals are closing down for want of doctors. Only a few choose to serve in remote areas. David's unbridled affection for fellow officer Uriah's wife was selfishness. He had many wives but did not consider the feelings of a cheated husband. The Ten Commandments clearly state that desiring to possess what belongs to someone else is sin. On the other hand Nehemiah gave up privileges that belonged to him as the Governor, because the people were already under heavy burden (Neh 5:14-18).
"Who among us is the greatest?" was the disciples' contention (Mk 9:34). James and John wanted the left and right hand seats of Jesus in His kingdom! (10:37). Do you see yourself here? A man wanted Jesus to tell his brother to divide the property with him (Lk 12:13). So the brother greedily cheated his brother of his share of the property, disregarding him. But Zacchaeus sets an example for us. He was amassing wealth probably by cheating people. But when he was converted, he opened his hands to bless the poor (19:1-8). His avarice was wiped clean
Jesus is our best model. He came not to be served but to serve (Mk 10:45). If He had been selfish where would we be? He was a Servant King. A leader washes the feet of his subordinates. The love of power is the love of yourself. When you write a letter to your subordinate, can you sign at the bottom, "Your servant"? Though Jesus was rich, He became poor by denying Himself the luxury of His heavenly riches, that we may become rich (2 Cor 8:9). The apostles followed His model and made many rich, though they themselves were poor (6:10).
If we have two houses do we dare sell one and give to the poor? Or atleast allow a poor family to live there without rent? That's what the early believers did (Acts 2:45; 4:34-37). Paul was not eagerly looking into the offering box to see if anybody had dropped a jewel. He worked to earn his bread and supported others too. He taught us altruism by his model. He also reminds us of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Act 20:33-35).
At age 53, John D. Rockefeller became very ill and could digest only some milk and crackers. He realised he could not take anything to the next world. He wrote off his wealth to hospitals, research and Mission work. He started improving and lived to be 98. He began to attend church and cleaned the church until he died. We grow old. Then we think about God in our sick bed. We will wonder why we hoarded things and built such a big house and why we cheated others. Now is the time to give away. One of BYM's missionaries, Dr. Jaishankar, when asked why he was not thinking of building a house, replied, "My home is in heaven." How happy he would be in his heavenly abode now! He taught us that the most important things in life are not things.
Greed breaks relationships and makes you egotistical, narcissistic and only interested in yourself. Self-seeking leads to confusion and every evil thing (Js 3:16). Like a leech it keeps demanding and is never satisfied with what it has (Prov 30:15). In contrast, love does not seek its own (1 Cor 13:5). Paul admonishes, "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others" (Phil 2:4). Let us practise self-denial and be magnanimous to the less privileged.
All human relationships have rough patches. Even in family life, if we are unselfish, there will be peace. If "I" is replaced by "we," even illness becomes wellness. Unselfish people forgive and bend down to ask for forgiveness. They serve and not expect to be served. They love without expecting anything in return. Submitting to one another becomes easy. Appreciating someone does not show his greatness but your own; demeaning someone does not show his meanness but your own. Love isn't divided when it is shared, it grows larger.
The prayers of Moses and Paul are classic examples of unselfishness. Both were prepared to be abased that others may be exalted (Exo 32:32; Rom 9:3). The mania to succeed is a good thing perverted. John the Baptist's desire was, "I must decrease." "Happy is the man who at the end of his life possesses only what he has given to others," said Armando Fuentes Aguirre. A day will come when we will be rewarded not for what we had but for what we gave away. George Washington Carver was a famous black American. He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honour in being helpful to the world.Let us not be found "Lover of self" in these last days, but be one of the persons who make the world a better place.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
