Abundant Life Episode 58 In this episode Saso and Ben talk about the topic of selfishness and how it is very destructive.

Websters 1828

Selfish – Regarding one’s own interest chiefly or soley; influenced in actions by a view to private advantage.

Key Verse

Philippians 2:3-4 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Selfish ambition – Another word for selfishness which means motivation to elevate oneself or to put one’s own interests before another’s.

Conceit – This simply means pride.

In other words don’t to anything out of selfishness and pride. Selfishness and pride work hand in hand.

The Fall of Man

Selfishness can be traced back to the fall of man. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden there was a selfishness and pride.

Genesis 3:6 – So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Satan appealed to Adam and Eve’s pride and their selfish desire to be wise like God.

Thelema Religion

• The word Thelema means “choice” or “will”
• Thelema is an occult religion that was taught by Aleister Crowley who was an occultist.
• One of the main axioms of Thelema is “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”
• Aleister Crowley has had a major influence in today’s culture through music and entertainment
• Ozzy Osbourne has a song named Mr Crowely, The Beatles album cover pictures Crowley, Michale Jackson album cover pictures Crowley and there are many more examples
• Bottom line is that this teaching of do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law is a teaching straight from the pit of hell.

Selfism Religion

The idea is self-worship. You are your own god. Quote from The Gospel Coalition – Philosophies of selfism:

• Your mind is the source and standard of truth, so no matter what, trust yourself.
• Your emotions are authoritative, so never question (or let anyone else question) your feelings.
• You are sovereign, so flex your omnipotence and bend the universe around your dreams and desires.
• You are supreme, so always act according to your chief end, to glorify and enjoy yourself forever.
• You are the standard of goodness—so don’t let anyone oppress you with the antiquated notion of being a sinner who needs grace.
• You are the Creator, so use that limitless creative power to craft your identity and purpose. #authenticity.

Satanism

• Church of Satan was established by Anton LaVey in 1966
• Anton LaVey is the author of the Satanic Bible
• The basic commonality in all the branches of Satanism is a promotion of self.
• All forms of Satanism claim that life exists to consume and that selfishness is a virtue.

The Solution

1. We MUST stop listening and believing the lies of the devil.
2. We need to be alert and identify when these lies creep up into our minds.
3. We need to be others-focused and not self-focused. Put others first.

• Mark 12:31
• Galatians 6:2
• Ephesians 4:32
• 1 Corinthians 10:24
• Romans 12:10
• Galatians 5:26
• Matthew 6:33
• Romans 7:5
• John 13:34-35
• 1 Peter 2:11