Selfishness is how
defined by Webster?
"That supreme self-love or self-preference which leads a person to
direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interest, power, or
happiness, without regarding those of others."
What specific
commandments forbids this sin?
"Thou shalt not covet." Ex. 20: 17.
Selfishness, then,
is contrary to what law?
"If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well." James 2:8.
How does it show
itself in the conduct of an individual?
(1) As Lovers of Self. "For men shall be lovers of
their own selves, covetous." 2 Tim. 3:2.
(2) As Pleasing Ourselves. "We then that are strong ought to
bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves."
Rom. 15:1.
(3) As Seeking Our Own. "Even as I please all men in all
things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that
they may be saved." 1 Cor. 10:33.
(4) As seeking after Gain. "Yea, they are greedy dogs which
can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they
all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter."
Isa. 56:11.
(5) As Seeking Undue Precedence. "Grant that these my two sons
may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy
kingdom." Matt. 20:21.
(6) As Neglect of the Poor. "But whoso hath this world's good,
and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" 1 John 3:17.
(7) As Performing Duty for Reward. "The heads thereof judge
for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets
thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is
not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us." Micah 3:11.
Show that
selfishness is inconsistent with the communion of saints.
"There should be no schism in the body, but that the members
should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer,
all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members
rejoice with it." 1
Cor.
12:25, 26.
Prove that it is
contrary to Christian charity, or love.
"Charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed
up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil." 1 Cor. 13:4, 5.
How are we
admonished with regard to selfishness?
"Let no man seek his own." 1 Cor. 10:24. "Look not
every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of
others." Phil. 2:4. (Read also Zech. 7:9, 10).
By what means may
we overcome selfishness?
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,
that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all,
that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto
him which died for them, and rose again." 2 Cor. 5:14, 15.
How prevalent is
this sin?
"For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus
Christ's." Phil. 2:21.
What among other
things will help to make the last days a perilous time?
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous." etc. 2
Tim. 3:1, 2.
Can we be followers
of Christ without overcoming selfishness?
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow Me." Matt. 16:24.
Show that Christ
condemned selfishness by His example.
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He
was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty
might be rich." 2 Cor. 8:9. "For even Christ pleased not
Himself." Rom. 15:3.
What should this
lead us to do?
"Let everyone of us please his neighbor for his good to
edification." Rom. 15:2.
What example has
the apostle Paul given us in this respect?
"Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own
profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." 1 Cor. 10:33
(1 Cor. 9:19-23).
Give some Bible
examples of selfishness.
Cain (Gen. 4:9); Nabal (1 Sam. 25:3, 11 ); Haman (Esther); princes
(Isa. 1:23); priests (Isa. 56:10, 11); James and John (Mark 10:35-37); the
multitude (John 6:24-26).
What is the
condition, and what will be the final punishment, of those who continue to
be governed by selfishness?
"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran
greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the
gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they
feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without
water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit,
twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out
their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of
darkness forever." Jude 11-13.