Selfishness talk outline

THE five questions you NEED to know about selfishness are about to begin.

1. What does the word selfishness mean? 
   1. First close look at the definition of Merriam-Webster.
      1. Someone who is salvation is concerned excessively or even exclusively with their own selves. They seek and concentrate on their own advantage that all place in their own well-being without regard for others.  They also have a total disregard for others.
   2. Next, what are the Bible words, and what do they mean?
      1. Self-seeking, Selfish Ambition
         1. contention (-ious), strife.
         2. a desire to put one’s self forward, a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts
         3. denotes rivalry,”
         4. denotes “party-making.”
      2. Conceit
         1. self-conceit:
      3. Lovers of self
         1. 1) loving one’s self exclusively
         2. 2) too intent on their own interest
      4. Insisting on its own way
         1. It demands or requires something from someone else.
      5. How do psychologists of your selfishness?
         1. To prepare for this visit I checked a number web sites that discuss this from a psychologist’s viewpoint. This is what I found. 
         2. They believe they deserve everything.

1. They can believe they will always be successful.
   1. They never consider that they can also suffer some misfortune.
   2. Selfish people don’t consider failure because they never expose themselves to it.
2. They don’t care who is in their way in order to get what they want.
   1. The success or failure of others is not their concern.
3. They do not listen to those who do not agree with them.
4. They need to believe all people who live in poverty do so because
   1. they don’t want to work,
   2. prefer to live in the street

• because they are not strong-willed

1. Not persistent enough to educate themselves.
2. Ad lib something like “what?” or “what you mean?” Or “say that again.”

1. They are not humble.
2. They exaggerate their achievements.
3. They award themselves more responsibility when a project is successful,
   1. run for the emergency exit when the project does not turn out well.
4. What happens inside organizations, churches, groups or social clubs when selfishness is present?
   1. To answer this question, it would be helpful to know what everyone else thinks, but that’s just the same thing you could do with Google.
   2. Instead, I am going to go to the Bible, because it’s got all the information we need.
   3. James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
      1. Disorder
      2. Vile practices
   4. Proverbs 18:1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
      1. No sound judgment
   5. Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
      1. No love for others
   6. Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
      1. Until self is put away you cannot be a follower of Jesus
      2. The same idea is also found in Mark 8:34 ESV

• Following Jesus fades away.

4. When selfishness is present, what other bad things are also present in society, in America?
   1. Truth is not obeyed
      1. Romans 2:8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
   2. Unrighteousness flourishes (see above)
   3. Hostility is present.
      1. 2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
   4. Factions, Parties, Divisions are present.
      1. Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
         1. More correctly, factions. From ἔριθος a hired servant. Ἑριθία is, primarily, labor for hire (see Tob. 2:11), and is applied to those who serve in official positions for hire or for other selfish purposes, and, in order to gain their ends, promote party spirit or faction.–VINCENT
      2. Philippians 1:17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

• Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves..

1. James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

1. Loving others is replaced by loving self only.
   1. 2 Timothy 3:1-2 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  (2)  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,…
2. Insistence on my ways by the selfish individual.
   1. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
3. Pleasing only the selfish individual.
   1. Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
4. All the good things of Christianity are sacrificed to meet the needs of The Selfish individual.
   1. Philippians 2:21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
5. Since God’s ways always work, what does he tell us to do to remove or prevent selfishness?
   1. I am very glad us that question.
      1. This entire discussion has been rather dark and dismal and sad.
   2. Listen to What God Says.
      1. Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
   3. Be humble.
      1. James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
      2. Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
   4. See others as more important than Yourself.
      1. You may need to put on God’s glasses to see the real value of people.
      2. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

• Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

1. 1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

1. Love others
   1. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
      1. Where there is love, selfishness has been replaced.
   2. Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
      1. Loving your neighbor as yourself prevents selfishness

1. Do what Jesus would think is important
   1. Philippians 2:21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
   2. Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
      1. Until self is put away you cannot be a follower of Jesus