Picking up from where we left off last week, we continue unpacking the concept of removing ourselves from the picture by shunning self centeredness. Self centeredness refers to one’s inability to stop thinking about themselves and their own interests, wherein they even fail to follow the Lord’s instruction because they are so consumed by how others will perceive them – this attitude is the root of pride. The scriptures tell us that ‘only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom’ (Proverbs 13:10). This passage shows us that offense and strife are caused by ONE root – pride. When people put their own interests and self image at the top of their priorities, they will fall to all manners of contention. This is later echoed by Apostle James, who wrote, ‘For where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work’ (James 3:16). This is how detrimental strife is, the Bible says it opens the door for EVERY EVIL WORK; all imaginable acts of satan are present where strife is, do not take it lightly! Issues of gossip, cliques, ill-intentions and the sowing of discord amongst saints should not be tolerated at all because they hand over a blank cheque to the enemy to do as he pleases. Refuse by all means, church!
The scriptures are also clear on what virtues should govern the believer’s life, listing out the characteristics of love that should be evident in our dealings with each other. ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7). From the apostle’s presentation, we see that believers should be known for patience and kindness, humility, honor and the love for truth. Believers should shun the trap of self promoting and boasting about all their apparent accomplishments, they should not be self centered and easily angered, taking things personally at every corner – instead, they should forgive and forget! Love is relational, it is not a fixed state of being independent of your everyday relationships – so we should always aim to bring it home: protecting the brethren and covering their shame, always believing and hoping the very best of the next person regardless of what we see! This is the expression of real love and Christlike virtues that are present in our spirit and should be active in our lives. It is up to us to train our soul to operate at the level of our spirit, a phenomenon referred to as ‘dying to self’, which we are called to do DAILY!
One such a good example of removing oneself from the picture and keeping the focus on Jesus is seen through John the Baptist. Before John, the Bible tells us that the Word of God was scarce – so when he arose, his fame spread and many considered him to be the bishop of the day. However, regardless of what was said about him, John was clear on what his assignment was – to make clear the way of the Lord. Such that when Jesus eventually started His ministry and gained momentum and attention from the same group of people that used to follow John, some of John’s disciples came to John to complain; but he replied, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him … Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:25-30). John was clear on his identity and what he was sent to do, he did not begin trying to compete for greatness in the eyes of men – he knew whose commendation mattered most! This is John, the man whom the Lord referred to as the greatest of all men born of a woman, greater than all the prophets (Matthew 11:11) – he was no small person! This is why people today live beyond their means, they place an inflated self image ahead of rationality and rather chase keeping up appearances instead of living the life they have in that time.
It is therefore crucial that we die to these proclivities of the soul if we are to truly align to the gaze of Jesus at all times. This is what Apostle John meant when he said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life’ (John 12:24-25). This is echoed by Apostle Paul, ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20). The only way you can die to yourself is if you live for Christ! With deliberate intention, we should aim to unlearn all that we have picked up in the world – patterns of thinking, patterns of behavior – we remove all that we brought to the cross, to take on what Christ has prepared for us. We cannot remain the way we are, in Christ, we continually transform into the right image and by the end of it all, we look nothing like the world we come from, and look everything like our Lord and Savior! Glory to God!
Prayer
Father, we thank You for Your word. We believe in the working power embedded therein, we believe in its ability to convert us from mere men, to a spitting image of Jesus! We believe that the Word is alive, active and working in us, building us up and delivering us to our inheritance! Our thinking is submitted to Your word, and we know that we are transforming! In Jesus’ name! Amen!
