We live in a self-centered culture. Everywhere we look we see evidence of a “me first” mentality. We all have a “self” that we have to deal with every day; if we’re not careful, we can be influenced to think like the rest of the world. Letting our pride and sense of self-importance dominate our lives keeps us from experiencing God’s best, but putting Him first helps us avoid that trap.

We’re not our own source for what we need in life; Jesus Christ is. A mindset that acknowledges this sets us apart from the world. We can’t do anything on our own, but we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

Self-centeredness is rooted in pride; pride ushers in anger, bitterness, resentment, strife, and unforgiveness. Proud people are always angry at some perceived insult, and they’re easily offended. Contention only comes through pride, but wisdom resides with the well-advised. This wisdom comes only by immersing ourselves in the Word of God.

We overcome pride and self-centeredness by focusing on Christ and making sure He stays in the center of the circle instead of us. We look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who went to the cross to enable us to defeat these emotions. It’s wise to shift our focus from what we can do for ourselves to what Jesus has already done for us.

Emotional hurt and grief are the results of putting ourselves first. We must do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but instead esteem others as better than us. This involves looking not just to our own interests, but also to others’ interests. We find favor in God’s eyes when we don’t seek our own well-being, but the well-being of our neighbor.

Jesus, who is Grace, is the supreme example of selflessness. We fall from grace when we let self-centeredness take over and see only ourselves instead of Him. Focusing our minds on the right Person keeps us where we need to be.

Prayer:

God, self-centeredness is deadly to us. You gave us the wisdom to recognize when we’re walking in selfishness and the ability to stay out of it. Thank You for your help and guidance. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

• Philippians 4:13
• Proverbs 13:10
• Hebrews 12:2, 14, 15
• Philippians 2:3, 4, NKJV
• 1 Corinthians 10:24, NKJV
• Galatians 5:4