Selfless or Selfish Living?

 



His Word: I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.    Romans 15:13 (NLT)
Observation & Obedience: Throughout chapter 15, Paul is in sorts conducting relationship counseling with the Roman believers. The Roman church was a diverse community. It was made up of Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people, rich and poor, strong and weak. And like our churches today, we sometimes have difficulty encouraging, getting along with and accepting one another. 

Paul leads up to our verse for today by giving the Romans advice to follow in order to have God’s hope, joy and peace.  I think we can learn from his teachings and apply them to our own relationships.

1) We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord (vs. 1b-2).  Selfish living and ambition have no place or positive outcome in our relationships. This type of mindset can only hurt and damage the good that God wants to do for others, through us. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself (v. 3a).

2) And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement… May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other (vs. 4b-5a). If our focus is on building others up and not ourselves, we are more apt to recognize the hope, encouragement and patience that come from God. This can make living in harmony with others possible and pleasing to him.

3) Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory (v.7).  Accepting others can be a challenge. We tend to gravitate to people who are like us. Those who look, speak, dress, live and worship like us. The danger in this is that we start to think of ourselves more highly than we should (Romans 12:3) and God does not receive the glory in our relationships, we do.
 
God is the source of our hope, joy and peace. And when we trust him with our relationships, we will overflow with confident hope. Where does this hope come from?

The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us to live unselfishly. He’s the one who directs us to those who need our guidance and encouragement. 

It’s the Holy Spirit’s power that makes it possible to live in complete harmony with each other. I think we would all agree that it’s not in our own power to make this happen! 

One of the Holy Spirit’s most difficult challenges is to get us to see the importance of accepting others. By acknowledging that there are differences in people, and that doesn’t necessarily make either one of us better than the other. When we set these differences aside and see people for who they are, not for what they are not, God is blessed and glorified. 

How are your relationships? Do you struggle with selfishness? Do you lack patience with others who don’t agree with you? Do you have a hard time accepting people who are not like you? Remember our key verse from today. God will fill us and our lives with hope, joy and peace when we turn our relationships over to him and trust him completely with them.

Prayer:  “Dear God, I am sorry for the relationships I have tried to control. I can think of many where I was only concerned with my own selfish desires. I want to live in harmony with those you’ve put in my life. Give me the patience and power I need to do this, even when I don’t feel like it!   I choose to build up, share hope and encouragement with and accept others, just as Christ has accepted me and my differences. I trust you with all the relationships in my life. Amen.” 
Encouragement: God never commanded you to trust people; God commanded you to love people and trust him. Know the difference. Your joy and victory depend on it. 

Affirmed or Afraid?

His Word: Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”    Exodus 33: 12-14

Observation & Obedience: In His Word for today, Moses and God had just had another “face to face” conversation - The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend (v.11).

Moses was confirming what He had heard from God : Lead these people, I know you by name, you have found favor with me. But even after all these affirmations, Moses was still expecting God to give him someone to go with him into the Promised Land. Another human he could count on for support and strength. Someone who could take over for him when he needed a break from dealing with these challenging and complaining Israelites.

When God is telling you something He wants/expects you to do, are you apt to be like Moses and ask for someone to go with you? Are you not sure if you can do all that He’s asking of you by yourself? Is the thought of a human companion more comforting and confidence building?

What did Moses ask God to do and why? Is this a common request of yours when you’re unsure and insecure?

Moses even “reminds” God who He has put him in charge of – your (chosen) people. Maybe Moses was thinking God would provide him with a much stronger leader than he was. Someone who was a better communicator. Someone the people would respect more and want to follow.

The Lord responds with a simple promise to Moses. “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

God would be his companion. God would provide direction and decision making skills. God would give him the rest he needed. God would be all Moses needed in order to fulfill His commands.

Prayer: “Dear God, there are many days when I act like Your Presence is not enough. When I think that I need someone else to come along side me to give me direction, strength and support. Yes, you have provided people in my life who do that, but they should not be the ones I depend on for everything. Only You can be that. Only You can be with me everywhere and at all times. Today I choose to cling to this promise of Your permanent Presence and Peace and believe it is all I need. Amen.”

Encouragement: A God wise enough to create me and the world I live in is wise enough to watch out for me.   Philip Yancey

* Share with us a time you depended on God’s Presence and rest to be all you needed….

Secure or Shaken?

His Word: Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me…  Psalm 16: 9-10a

Observation & Obedience:  What person doesn’t want a glad heart, a tongue that rejoices and a body that rests secure? The author, David, had found the secret to joy. True joy is far deeper than happiness. Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances. But joy like David experienced is lasting because of God’s presence within us.

David’s focus for his hope was based on God’s presence being permanent in his life, regardless of what was going on around him. We too can have the same benefits. If we read a few verses before our key verse, we’ll see what David did in order to find such joy, rest and security.

Psalm 16:7 – I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. David made it a habit to praise God – day and night; even when he was being counseled and instructed by God. How often do we praise Him when He is correcting and changing our well laid out plans?

Psalm 16:8a - I keep my eyes always on the LORD. Where was David’s focus? On himself? On his enemies? On his women and wealth? On his title and prestige? His focus was always on the Lord.  Did that make him perfect? No, but he recognized that he always needed to have God before him – guiding and directing him.

Psalm 16:8b – With him (God) at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  David knew that with God by his side, he had no reason to fear and doubt. Like David, we still must live in a sinful world and experience the day to day circumstances of life. But for those who praise God, seek His counsel and instruction, keep their focus on Him, they can have the security in knowing they’re doing what is right and important in God’s eyes.

So that leads us to David’s proclamation in verse 9-10a. His heart is glad, his tongue rejoices and his body rests secure. Are you experiencing the same benefits in your life? Maybe you need to choose to adopt David’s actions. You can start today:

1) List 2-5 things/people/lessons you can praise God for that He has used to counsel and instruct you.

2) Examine where your focus is? Are your eyes always on the Lord following His guidance or are they wandering around looking for other ways to find joy, peace and rest? How are these things/people working for you?

3) Do you truly believe that God is always before/with you? Or do you sometimes wonder if He’s too busy with other things to pay attention to your needs? This may sound foolish, but how many of us have thought this at one time or another? Think of a time God showed up in a big way in your life. Write Him a thank you note...

Prayer: “Dear God, forgive me for the times I’ve been upset with You for correcting me and instructing me to do something I may not have agreed with. Help me to always keep my eyes and focus on You because You are always before and with me.  I don’t need to fear because you will fill me with joy in your presence and with eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:11).  Today I choose to live with a glad heart, a tongue that rejoices and a body that rests secure. Amen.”

Encouragement: Jesus did not promise to change the circumstances around us. He promised great peace and pure joy to those who would learn to believe that God actually controls all things.     Corrie ten Boom (Holocaust Survivor)