Selfishness II Timothy 3 2 -5 Selfish

Selfishness II Timothy 3: 2 -5

Selfish » Only addressed directly one time. (II Timothy 3: 2) » But attitudes of people and examples found throughout. » Bible focuses upon NOT being selfish. Mat 5: 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Selfish Agenda 1. Who does selfish benefit? 2. Who does selfless benefit? 3. God as an example of selflessness.

1. Who does selfish benefit? » Answer is in the word itself: » Self » How does that benefit me? Acts 5: 1 -6 Ananias & Sapphira » jealousy » greed » lies

St. Basil’s Cathedral » Commissioned by Ivan IV (Ivan the terrible) » Had architect’s eyes removed so no other like it could be made.

How does the Church benefit me? » Attitude some people have. » I need: A big band, entertainment, social groups, people my age, a famous preacher, opulent facility with huge parking, and bumper stickers. » People need to think about me. » No room to serve God.

Numbers 15: 2 -3 Num 15: 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you, Num 15: 3 and will make an offering by fire unto Jehovah, a burntoffering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a freewilloffering, or in your set feasts, to make a sweet savor unto Jehovah, of the herd, or of the flock;

Amos 5: 21 -22 » 800 Years later Amo 5: 21 I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Amo 5: 22 Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and mealofferings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peaceofferings of your fat beasts. » What have we done with it today?

2. Who does selfless benefit? » Less self, not looking at what is good for yourself. Luke 10: 25 -37 Good Samaritan » Was the Samaritan benefited? Money, status, or gratefulness? Luke 6: 31 -34 Not looking for what you can get out of it.

Do unto others Romans 13: 8 -10 Love thy neighbor as thyself Ephesians 4: 31 -32 be ye kind to one another Philipians 2: 3 -4 counting others better than himself; Colossians 3: 13 forgiving each other

Who does God expect me to be? Genesis 50: 1521 • Recognized what God expected of him. Mark 9: 33 -37 • How God defines greatness: To serve others.

3. God as an example of selflessness. Luke 6: 35 -36 But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful. » God sets the bar high.

Jesus as an example Matthew 20: 28 Jesus came to serve and give His life. Php 2: 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Php 2: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, Php 2: 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; Php 2: 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

God has called you to serve Act 2: 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Joh 6: 44 No man come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Joh 6: 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.