Going back to my desk extra full and feeling guilty, I sat down to finish reading an artilce about Unselfish Christian Love (http://bible.org/seriespage/unselfish-christian-love-1-cor-135b). As I finished reading, a part of the article hit me, it talked about in everything that it must be subservient to the pursuit of Christ. In all that we do we must understand and make a choice that in all that we do even taking a vacation, eating, etc. that the purpose of Christ is made number one in pursuing it. So as I read I was thinking that my years and battles with overeating, I was pleasing myself literally. I was pleasing my flesh, because the food was there, it tasted good, it looked good and allowed my desires to override the fact of the matter that me eating alot, and eating unhealthy did not put Christ as number one. I have lost a considerable amount of weight through the years but still struggle with my ideas and wants with food. I am supposed to eat in order to sustain this temple that God gives me. Eating healthfully, getting enough rest, having a healthy lifestyle may not be the most comfortable but it is the most helpful for promoting Christ even in that.
But I saw this not just in an eating issue, but in a life issue. What other things have I been doing that has been promoting my agenda as number one, instead of my pursuits being placed behind the pursuit of Christ in what He has for me to do. No man shall take His glory, so what have I been doing in my life where I shined the spotlight on myself and dimmed out Christ?
I like to shop, I like to be able to to go to the store at any whim to get anything I may desire, and especially if it is on sale. But does my pursuit of material things reflect the love of God in me? Am I willing to sacrifice a dress or a pair of shoes so another one of my brothers and sisters in Christ can have something for themselves. Lately I have been in a war with myself and my mannerisms in some aspects of my life. I have had to face some comfort zones head on and I can't say I have always won the battle. For this year now up to this point, mI have been in a position that I thought I wouldn't have to deal with it and I have been in it longer than I expected. I have been having to face a part of me that I didn't realize was there until I got thrown into the fire. I wonder, I beg and I plead for things to change, but had to realize that I was focusing on myself and my comfort zones and how I want things done.
Being a Selfish Christian is an oxymoron, they don't go together, and in no way if you idenfiy yourself as a Christian being selfish has to be obliterated. By sinful nature we are selfish beings, looking out for what we think is ours and then after we are taken care of maybe giving the time of day to the next person. But those things are supposed to be flipped. The needs of others, sacrfices to see others not stuggle, etc. are priority because we carry the love of Christ in us, because He gave himself as a sacrifice to us sinful humans. And through that sacrifice and love we have been given a chance to be sons and daughters of the Most Holy One. It all boils down to love, love is going to stand, love is forever, all the things we try to hoard and keep a watch of are going to fade away. If I say I love my brother and not give him any help is the love of God truly in me?
So if you are like me and you need to take a look at what and who you have placed your priorities in, its time for self examination so we can change and be molded into what Christ wants us to be.
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.~1 John 2:16 NLT
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.~Romans 13:14 NIV
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.~I Corinthians 13:4-10 NLT
