Self Centered

God holds no hatred or animosity toward mankind, or any individual man, woman or child, despite the perception held by those asking this question of themselves when the question should always be, "What does God Hate so much that we do not see His Love for us?"

Wayfaring Stranger (Charles McCoy)

Lesson 4 of 10 Self-Centered

I recently spoke with a man asking why God blessed others while God wasn’t blessing him. He recounted one unfortunate life’s experiences one after another and, in a tone of bitter pleading, expressed his concern as to his poor living style and seemingly lack of concern from God. As he continued uninterrupted, it was noted that his self-defense and objections to lack of blessings from God contained an important central theme. His complaints were littered with references to “I,” “me,” “my,” and “mine.” His accusations continued and were all about him and what he had done and suffered. I did not hear in the “what I have done,” statements any referral to what he needed to do to receive God’s blessings. He never even thought to asked what he could do to bring praise and glory to God. He only complained as to how God hadn’t met his expectations with blessings as a father should. He didn’t talk about his obedience, or lack of it, or any desire he had to be a child whose Father would be glorified in blessings given unto him. In fact, he never even talked directly about a Father-child relationship with God. He left God on the periphery of his complaining just as he did in his life. It was very obvious life was all about him and his.

He apparently viewed God as a glorified “Santa Claus”. He is not! He also is not obligated to bless any of us if we do not worship Him and put Him before all things in the life He invested in us.. If you’re all about you, and what God is or isn’t giving you, God might be choosing not to bless your life until you become all about Him (Luke 9:23).“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Galatians 2:20“ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” When you die to self, your focus won’t be on whether or not you’re being blessed, but on how to be a blessing to God. Blessings will come down when blessings and glory is sent up. The treatment we deal unto our brothers and sisters is the same as unto God. Even as we do a thing to one of His little ones, we do it unto Him. God must be the first symbol in the formula of life. You cannot love anyone or anything more than God and be a servant of Hid liing.

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Mark 7:10

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

Luke 6:27 “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,”

Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (riches and desirable things of the world, also god of this world)

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Matthew 35 - 40 “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

If one desires to receive the promises of God they must prove themselves worthy. God blesses those who are His in spirit and truth. Know God, know peace. 10-21-19 BLL