Ignoring Selfish Desires 10-22-18

It is difficult, if not nearly impossible, to reach a specific destination without knowing where you are going. Whether you use a map or GPS, some type of help is needed to get you from point A to point B. In the Gospels Jesus shares marks of becoming a disciple. These marks are not met to drive people to some guilt-ridden self-willed determination to become disciples but to show what a life of a person who is God-directed grace-filled will become. One such mark of Christ’s disciples or followers is to ignore selfish desires.

 Now don’t get me wrong a desire is necessarily a bad thing. A desire is a longing or hope for something. One of the marks of a disciple is to desire to be like Christ. I desire to be a great husband and father. I also desire to visit Yellowstone. These desires are good. A selfish desire is not something that is good for you, but something that does not take into account God and the impact on others. Selfishness is not caring for your self. Selfishness is being excessively or exclusively focused on oneself. Healthy desires do not just benefit me but benefit others, and most importantly glorify God.

 In contrast, a selfish desire benefits me in spite of others and without any care for God and His kingdom. Jesus proclaimed: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt 16:25). In the previous verse, we read: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24). Any person who rejects God’s will and instead pursues his own will for his life ultimately loses eternally every earthly good he is trying to protect.

 To deny oneself is to die to one’s selfish will that is part of his old self before being made new in Christ. This dying to oneself expresses the true essence of the life of a Christ follower. When the old self dies, the new self comes to life (see: John 3:3-7). Dying to self means ignoring those desires that benefit you alone, without any care for God and others.

 Baptism expresses this ignoring of selfish desires or dying to self. In baptism, the act of immersion in water symbolizes dying and being buried in Christ. The coming up out of the water pictures our identification with Christ and His resurrection. This is what Paul was referring to when He wrote:

 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20).

 Paul is explaining that as a result of His participation (identification) in Christ’s death on the cross the old self has died and now, being identified with Christ and His resurrection, he is a new person where he no longer lives an independent life of his own, but a life of believing dependence on God. A believer’s life is not to be characterized with selfish desires, but a life marked by glorifying God, living blessed, and benefiting others.

 Denying our selfish desires is crucial if we are to use our time, talent, treasure (money), and testimony to honor Christ. Christ followers need to stop trying to control their own lives and allow God to direct their lives. Jesus calls His disciples to a life of submission and trust in Him, not self-hatred. God’s desire is for us to give up our selfishness and live a selfless life in Him.

 In reality, most of us will never be asked to actually give our physical life for Christ. But, the question is, are we willing if necessary? You would have to give up selfish desires to do so. All of us are asked to give up our selfish desires for Christ every day. So, are we willing to do so? Are we willing to die to self?

 Now our surrendering is not perfect, but our desire to do so ought to be. We come to Christ due to His salvific work, extravagant love and Grace. We continue in Him by the same. A growing disciple of Christ will ignore selfish desires and continue, by God’s power and leading, to live such a life.

 It is a joy to journey with each of you as we journey together with Christ. I pray the desires that consume us to glorify Him, bless us and benefit others. Let us pray that we will die to self and truly live in Him. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!