So Long Self

Selfishness Bible Study


Christianity Oasis Ministry provides this So Long Self and Selfishness Bible study looking at ... What is Selfishness in the Bible verses bringing forth Truth, understanding and peace within.

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Christian Walk Bible study program. This is our extremely intriguing, very concerning and thought provoking, So Long Self teaching with Selfishness Bible study taking an in depth look into the question, What is Selfishness in the Bible. The Bible makes it very clear that selfishness is a very big concern for Christians. The absolutely awesome and heart piercing message within the So Long Self / Selfishness Bible study will teach you to avoid entertaining selfishness and will truly enhance your YOU-nique Christian walk.


So Long Self - Selfishness Bible Study

What is Selfishness in the Bible

What is selfishness and how does selfishness affect your day to day life?

The Bible makes it clear that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit and that He resides within us as, it is written:

1 Corinthians 6:19

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Did you note the last part? We are not our own ...

That is what we will be looking into today ... With a twist. So, open your minds and hearts and prepare to be enlightened in many ways. It will be your choice to partake of this Truth, another choice to believe it or not and yet another choice whether you will apply it to your Christian Walk ... Or not.

So Long Self and Selfishness Bible Study Truth
What is Selfishness in the Bible Origin

Let's talk about a man named Job. A must read book of the Bible for all Christians. If you have not read it I suggest that you do. Job was a man that God called ... Perfect. After reading of all that he endured, we learn of his never ending Faith after being put to the test, at the request of our common enemy ... Satan. The test was to see if Job would trade up his Faith and curse God, if trials and tribulation were allowed to occur in his life. We learned of how Job had some of the most horrific tribulations that one could fathom come upon him. From the loss of his worldly wealth ... To his flesh being tortured ... To even his children being killed.

Now, some of you that know the story may be thinking ... Wait a second, you put the children being killed at the end of the list as if it was the worst thing that happened. Did not Satan request that Job's flesh be tortured after his children's death and if so, would that not be deemed as a worse torture?

Satan thought so. See after his worldly wealth and children were taken from him and Job did not curse God as Satan expected him to but rather praised God. The enemy of our soul went back to stand in line awaiting his turn to speak with our God and when it was his turn, God pointed out that ole Job withstood the test and had remained faithful. Satan then suggested that Job's flesh be tortured claiming that Job did not fall because Job himself was not physically hurt.

Selfishness Bible study tidbit of Truth ... Anyone that has ever loved someone knows that this is not Truth. When we lose someone that we love, it hurts all over. It matters little if it was a child, spouse, friend or even someone we love that never loved us back. We know that the pain can be so intense that even our flesh mourns. Then why did Satan think he would trade up his Faith if his flesh was touched?

Satan knew exactly what he was doing. He knew of a seed of "self love" that he had planted within mankind back in the garden of Eden and just knew it would be the straw that would break the camel's back. Therefore he requested that Job be allowed to suffer fleshly torture as a last resort by having Job receive boils all over his body that were so bad, that even his friends did not recognize him. His wife seeing him even said just curse God and die. Tsk tsk.

Obviously, if Job did not surrender his Faith after the loss of his children, he was not going to trade up his Faith for what is a lesser torture to one who can see. Job continued in his Faith and God put an end to the test and restored Job with twice the wealth that he had and the same amount of children that he had prior to Satan's plot to destroy Job's Faith. Job passed the test.

We are all tested in life in like manner. Maybe not to such extremes but it oft times feels like it during the trials that we encounter. I would like to talk today about some of the trials that we experience as we sojourn down this Christian Walk and seek ways to hold our Faith during the trials as to never doubt and even curse God.

Do you remember that I just said that Satan planted a seed of "self love" within mankind back in the garden of Eden? It was Satan that spoke through the serpent in the garden of Eden ... Some question whether it was Satan or just a snake. Here is wisdom ... The enemy speaks thru vessels just as God speaks through His chosen vessels. Here is one scripture that verifies it was Satan speaking in the Garden of Eden. When referring to Satan, (Ezekiel 28:12-19) God said ... Thou hast been in Eden, the Garden of God ...

What is Selfishness in the Bible Concern

Let me explain the "self love" a little more. Due to past choices of the two original humans ... We, as humans, have been bestowed with what we will call original sin:

Romans 5:12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

This is a seed of selfishness within each of us which originated from Satan's deception of Eve by telling her that if she defied God and ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil that she would be like God. Eve then gave the fruit to Adam and he too chose to partake of that which God said not to. Let us look at the actual words to feel what happened:

Genesis 3:1-7

1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

What is Selfishness in the Bible Danger

Due to this Choice made by the first man and woman, known as the Original Sin ... The sin is now in the flesh of all mankind and when we are born, we are destined to death ... unless we make the choice to believe in Jesus. When we become Christians, we are reborn and receive Salvation and Eternal Life not because of something we did or our works, but rather because of God's Love and Grace. This unconditional Love known as Grace was established with God's creation of the absolutely awe inspiring and extremely exciting New Covenant which is demonstrated and explained in the New Testament. This New Covenant has the destiny of death, made void by the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Let's look at a few of the words that Satan said ... And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Satan was referring to what God said:

Genesis 2:17

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Satan spoke of carnal matters while God spoke of Eternal matters. Because ladies and gents Adam and Eve did die even after partaking of the fruit. They would no longer live forever. They died Spiritually and then physically years later. So, as God said ... They would die. They did not become as God. So Satan lied.

Did you note that Satan also said that they would know the difference between good and evil? That was true. But again from a carnal view as if it was something good but he failed to tell the whole Truth which is that they would then be responsible for their choices IF they ate from the tree of Knowledge of Good and evil because they would know sin ... Was sin.

Selfishness Bible Study Choices
Selfishness in the Bible Fears

It is kinda like a baby crawling over to an electric socket and messing with it. When the parent sees the child, they run over and pull the infant away from the electric socket, gently warning of the dangers. but ... When that kid is 5 years old and knows right from wrong and still does it, the parent then becomes angry and it is time to learn a lesson. Even tho it is the same child doing the same act. The child knew. That makes all the difference in the world. That is why it is called the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Sooooooo thanks Eve. Way to go Adam. We now have the seed of the Original sin within each and every one of us. It is in the genes. Kinda like when someone says, "Awwwwwww, look at little Joey, he has his daddy's eyes." Another says, "Yes, and his grandmas smile." Still another says, "Yep, and his aunt Cathy's disposition." Well guess what little Joey ... You got a little something else too, courtesy of your descendants Adam and Eve.

We see now that we awake each day with the Original Sin cleaving to our flesh. This spiritual "thorn in the flesh" if you will. A constant crying out for us to do things our own way. The desire to ponder on things that we want. The manner of seeing everything around us as how it affects us. The passion to do things asked of us only if we had gain or not at all unless it was our idea. In a word ... Selfishness.

We all have this original sin within us and it is something that we are to overcome with Truth. You see our enemy absolutely adores con-fusing us. He will even use scripture as He did with Jesus when Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness for 40 days:

Matthew 4:1

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Did you catch that? Tempted by the devil. Let's consider that for a sec. When we are going thru our own trials and tests, it is actually us being tempted by Satan. So Job was also being tempted by Satan in a vain attempt to get Job to surrender his Faith and curse God.

So Long Self and Selfishness Bible Study Research
What is Selfishness in the Bible Source

Satan offered Jesus selfish desires. Everything from answering the calls of the flesh by suggesting that Jesus eat while He was fasting ... To jumping off a building as to test God's promises ... To offering Jesus fame and fortune in the world.

Satan uses this same method of temptation with each of us ... He constantly has our flesh call out to be catered to. He constantly gives us thoughts to question God's promises. He constantly gives us thoughts of fame and fortune. You know, the temporal stardom that the world teaches us to strive for. Be a Sports star, a beauty queen, the richest man, the nicest house on the block, the best at this and that, etc. We are taught to seek to BE in that temporal limelight.

Sounds more like a falling star does it not? I mean check it out ... Something that shines and people say wow as it streaks before them, with all it's own glory and then it is gone ... And the next contestant steps up. The new kid in town has arrived and the star that was ... Is a has been. Nobody thinks of them any more. They have traded up eternal for temporal.

What did Jesus say in response to Satan's attempts to tempt Him? He quoted Truth ... When it was suggested that He turn a stone to bread and eat ... Jesus said that man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth from the mouth of God ... Which means that we are never gonna be satisfied by answering the calls of the flesh because it will never end. There is something deep within us that needs God's Word and mankind has attempted to fill that void with temporal things. We all know that just does not do it.

Even in what some deem as a "perfect world" ... You have a great spouse. You have plenty of money, loving kids, nice home, etc. ... There is still that longing for more. It is your soul searching for something Eternal ... It can only be filled with God's Word. It is a deep planted seed just as the Original Sin was but this seed is planted by God within your soul.

So Long Self and Selfishness Bible Study Training
What is Selfishness in the Bible Deception

In answer to Satan's request to have Jesus test God's promises by leaping off of a building ... Jesus told Him that we are not to tempt God by questioning His promises. God is true to His Word but you change the playing field when you choose to doubt or test Him. Simple rules boys and girls ... He is God and we are not.

When offered the worldly fame and fortune ... Jesus said ... Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve ... Let's be real shall we? You are gonna serve a master. Whether it be the devil which planted the seed of Self or God who planted the seed of Love and cultivated it with Grace. To attempt to con-vince yourself that it is anything different is ... Deception.

Think about this for a sec. Even Jesus was tempted. Who are we not to expect the same? When we are tempted, as Job was and as even our Lord was we should choose to do what Jesus did and that is to overcome the circumstance that was presented with Truth.

Job said something that we should all ponder on more and even make it part of our state of mind and heart.

Job 1:21

Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Paul echoes this Truth:

1 Timothy 6:7

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

So Long Self and Selfishness Bible Study Test
What is Selfishness in the Bible Path

Think about just how true these words are. We are just sojourners here on Earth. We are not owed anything. Nothing is ever ours. So we see a totally diff way of thinking than that which we have been accustomed to thinking.

This brings us to love ... When we love someone; We must ask ourselves why we love them. Is it the kind of Love that God has for us? Or, is it that we want to deem them as ours? And if so ... Is it the call of our flesh being answered yet again?

I am not talking about sex, I am talking about wanting to be wanted. The carnal instinct to have someone want and even desire us. Oft times, once that is achieved, we find ourselves uninterested in that person and seek others to want us.

Is not this type of love selfish? Now what if we stay with a person that we love and this person is taken from us whether it be by distance, divorce or even death? How is it that we are so hurt at times that we question our own Faith?

Let's take the worst case scenario ... Death. Let us say the person we loved was a Christian. When they die, do they not go to Paradise? Why then do we mourn for the ones that we loved that died when we are supposed to know that they are happy and safe. Is it not for selfish reasons that we mourn?

Think about it ... Thousands of Christians die every day and yet you do not mourn for them as you do for those that have come across your path in life. Why is that? Because you deem them as your spouse, your child, your friend ... Yours.

What if we had a different mindset. The one taught us by a man that God called perfect and another man that was by far the most potent human tool of God at bringing in the sheep. Hear their words yet again ...

Job 1:21

Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

1 Timothy 6:7

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

So Long Self and Selfishness Bible Study Counseling
What is Selfishness in the Bible Help

Did you know that Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven? So all of those who imagine that if or when your spouse dies, there will be this great reunion once you arrive in Paradise where you and your spouse are back together in each others arms, to live happily ever after. Uh huh ... Best check the facts. Tho it is a quaint little picture, our Lord Jesus said quite the opposite. Check this out:

Matthew 22:30

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the Angels of God in Heaven.

In other words, when you pass from this realm to the next, you no longer have the desire to serve self but rather become as an Angel and seek to please God. Perhaps you should get used to this by doing so now, my friends, please ponder on this for a minute. How many thoughts do you have every day that seek to please you and how many seek to please God?

Now, there is nobody judging you here as we are all guilty of this because of the Original Sin within us. But, we are taught that we are to Renew our minds as to overcome this. We are to have a mindset where such things are not allowed to touch our precious Faith. Consider Job's test.

The words of the Apostles taught us to rejoice in trials and tribulation ... They knew this Truth that is being shared with you. Now the unbeliever next to em probably freaked out when they came out with stripes on their back from being whipped, and yet they were praising God. They must have thought em crazy ... They are. They are crazy for Jesus. A Love that surpasses all understanding.

So let's do a little Selfishness Bible study math and put all this together ... We must change the way we perceive the trials and tribulation that we are sure to experience by remembering that we came with nothing and will leave the same way. Nothing is ours. It is all ... HIS. It was all created to glorify Him ... not us.

Even you are not yours. Remember what we learned at the start of this, What is Selfishness Bible trek for Truth?

1 Corinthians 6:19

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

My friends we have all been bought with a very high price. The Blood of the only Son of God:

1 Corinthians 6:20

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

A very heavy price. Listen to Him. The Selfishness Bible study message is this; We are not here to serve our own selfish desires but rather to glorify Him. He is worthy. If it were not for His eternal Love for His children. Our enemy of the soul would own us and my friend, that is one unpleasant concept. What is Selfishness in the Bible? The opposite of what God chose to do.

Please consider what has been shared with you today and if you find it to be Truth you should choose to apply it to your Christian Walk as to obtain and maintain peace within.

Say your farewells. Say ... So Long Self!