Petty, Petty And More Petty
“O Lord…who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks in integrity, and works righteousness.” - Psalms 15:1,2
SELFISH PLUS
Did you know that the more selfish we are, the more we don’t realize it? That’s scary.
God wants us to understand the many ways He created us to bring joy to others, but first our own selfishness must be significantly dealt with. It can be quite eye-opening as God begins to reveal the extent of our self-centeredness. It’s a lifetime-process for every believer, but we understand it most clearly when we look back over the years. Remembering my early teen years, I’m astounded at how petty I could be.
CAMPING SELFISHNESS
We camped often as a family. We drove an older VW camper van, complete with stove, faucet, suspended bed, and closets. We loved it.
As we rolled through the miles toward our destinations, we often traveled at night and slept in our designated sleeping spots in the back of the van.
Often my little brother was positioned next to me. I didn’t mind that, but it really bugged me when his arm or leg flopped into MY area. I always spelled out the rules in hushed tones under my blanket, “Ken, if you cross this line (I rubbed my finger across an imaginary line between us) I will smash you.” Invariably an arm or a leg or other body part would cross the sacred line and with a big whack, I’d pound it until Ken moved it back. Ah! Such love.
MY STUFF
A collection of comic books was my pride and joy. I had over 400 and they were strictly off limits to my little brother. I kept my very best ones in a secret stash under my bottom dresser drawer.
When I felt like reading them I’d lock Ken out of the room, pull out the drawer, make my selection, then carefully place the drawer back so no one would discover my hiding place. Such kindness!
One day I forgot to lock the door and Ken walked in and saw me in the middle of my secret operation. I was so angry that I kicked a hole in the bedroom wall. Ah! Such control.
My dream treehouse stood twenty feet high, square on the tip-top of an avocado tree my dad had trimmed. It was great. Up there, where there were no branches to obscure my view, I could see everywhere.
I had an old army chest on my platform where I stored my goodies—which I, of course, kept locked to keep you-know-who out.
I also kept the entrance door locked to have double security. “My stuff is my stuff” was my motto. Ah! Such thoughtfulness.
DO NOTHING OUT OF SELFISHNESS
How are you doing with petty selfishness? God desires that your brothers, and sisters and Mom and Dad would become your good friends. That takes a lot of unselfishness, love and forgiveness. How are those relationships for you?
Philippians 2:3 says the most amazing thing: “Do nothing out of selfishness.” Nothing—nothing at all out of selfishness. That’s God’s desire for us.
Contrast my early teen years with that of Tabitha in the Bible. It says of her that she “…abounded in deeds of kindness which she continually did…” (Acts 9:36). That’s incredible! I didn’t begin to come close to that. How ‘bout you?
God intends that you and I also to abound in good things continually done for others like she did. Wow! What a goal to reach for.
I don’t know if you know this it, but your flesh (who you were before you accepted Christ) can be perfectly content being selfish, angry, vengeful and mean. For an amazing amount of time, too. But is this how you want to live?
Psalms 15 says that the one who comes to God’s hill (symbolic of God’s presence) is the one who walks in God’s ways. This means giving up petty selfishness, anger, revenge, and meanness.
Do this. Struggle hard with the Lord’s help to get free of the tentacles that can hold so tight. As you’ll discover again and again that the joy of being close to God and loving others–and in turn being loved in God’s time–is far, far better than living in the prison of selfishness and anger.
In reality, this is what God Himself created you for.
“…put on the new self… put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” - Philippians 2:10, 12, 13
"For behold, I create (My people) for rejoicing and… for gladness.” - Isaiah 65:18