I hope everyone is having a great week!! It has been beautiful weather here in Alabama! I have spent the week spending time with loved ones and just trying to be the best I can be. It's so important to remember that there is always room to grow with Christ, no matter how old you are or how much you know.
Have you ever found yourself being selfish?
Definition: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well being without regard for others.
Being selfish could mean that you put yourself in front of others, you get the best of things while not being concerned what your family has or others, getting upset and causing broken relationships because something didn't go your way, not worrying about those who have nothing, even being selfish with your time, or people, doing works for God but really its only for yourself to shine
Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. James 3:13-16
Friends, scripture says that where envy and selfishness is that there is disorder. Do you have disorder and chaos in your life? If so, it is probably because you are living a selfish life.
I know I can struggle with being selfish. It used to be bad but when I became a true follower of Christ he showed me what was really important in life. You see God didn't send His only Son to give us everything we want and to make us happy! He sent His Son to die for our sins so that we may be free to live for Him, not for ourselves!
For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:19-20
You see if being a true follower of Christ means we must give Him everything, and we can't do that if we are being selfish.
Now this don't mean you won't fail. We are not perfect. Just last night I found myself almost being selfish of Shane. I tend to want no one else to have him! God told me to stop being selfish that what He is doing is for me, and that is what is most important.
Think of someone that is selfless. Many people come to my mind but the two that stand out the most is my mom, and Jeremiah Swaray. My mom because she is always puts others before herself! My whole life I watched her do it. Before she did anything for herself she always made sure my brother, dad and I had the nicest things. Even for those she doesn't know. Just last year when we went to El Salvador and instead of using her hardworking money for herself, she used it to get those orphans and our family there that she had never met shoes, clothes, and even small toys. It is called love, and it is what we were called to do!
Jeremiah is a missionary from Africa who takes care of his wife, his 3 kids, and around 40 orphans. My dad, brother, and friend Pete, met Jeremiah on a mission trip in Sierra Leone, Africa, it was there that Jeremiah practically saved their lives. Jeremiah had the opportunity to come to America in October of 2014, while he was here he showed us what it meant to be a true follower of Christ. While he was packing to leave, instead of packing his entire luggage for himself he stuffed it full of shoes and clothes for his family and the orphans! This showed that he truly loved them! How selfless. How many of you would take in 40 orphans and not know where your next meal would come from?
None of this was to boost them; it was to show that what they are doing is what God told them and us to do!
Now that you have heard of two selfless people I know and have thought of some that you know it's time to examine your own life. Where in your life are you being selfish? I know I can find some places that I am, so I know that you can too! The first step is to admit it to yourself and then ask God to forgive you. He will always forgive you as long as you ask! Now that you are forgiven start living a life of selflessness. At the end of each day examine where you might have been and fix it! Ask yourself what you have done for someone else today? Then ask what have you done for someone outside your family? God will help you if you ask!
Now that you want to live a selfless life, start living in love! We cannot love if we are being selfish, and that is Gods biggest command.
"I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." James 13:34-35
1 Corinthians 13 also tells us that love is not selfish! Love kills selfishness. If we live in love then we will kill two birds with one stone! It's time to start living a life for Christ! I know you can do it! Lets do it together!
you are loved, you are forgiven, you are blessed
His daughter,
Starla Conroy
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| My mom and I on my wedding day making me pretty |
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| An orphan in Africa that lives with Jeremiah |
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