(Christian Living Sermon) Hillside 7/96
Filename: Fruit of Selfishness

THE FRUIT OF SELFISHNESS

INTRODUCTION-- When I was having some problems with self-confidence, a friend (not a Christian, though a believer in Christ after his own whim) recommended I read "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. All I knew about Emerson was that he was a highly respected "man of letters," who lived in the 19th Century. I learned later that he was a leading "Transcendentalist," a philosophy which says that man only finds truth within himself.
  1. Some of the so-called "truths" I found in Emerson's book.
    1. "Trust thyself."
    2. "Whoso would be a man, must be a non-conformist."
    3. "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind." (another variation--"No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature.")
    4. "The only right is what is after MY constitution; the only wrong what is against it."
    5. "I shun father & mother & wife & brother when my genius calls me."
    6. "I would write on the lintels of the doorpost, 'WHIM.'"
  2. It is easy to see that the thrust of this philosophy is SELFISHNESS, not "self reliance." It is seen, in Emerson's words; "Every decent and well-spoken individual sways me more than is right...Do not tell me, as a good man did today, of my obligation to put all poor men in good situations. Are they my poor? I tell the foolish philanthropist that I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not belong."
  3. If I had not been grounded in the teaching of God's Word before reading this book, I might have been persuaded by this selfish philosophy. (We are born selfish, and need little persuasion in adult life to be moreso.)
  4. But what of those people who have not been exposed to the teaching of the Bible?

LESSON-- Selfishness rules where there is no divine law, and bears bitter fruit.
  1. Judges 17:6 says, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
    1. The context of this verse, we find one of the most graphic and sordid tales of a group of people who followed their selfish "whims."
      1. A man steals 1100 pieces of silver from his mother, but when she speaks a curse on the thief, he confesses the theft.
      2. She takes the silver, and has a foundry make them an idol.
      3. The son then sets up the idol in his house, worships it, and makes one of his sons a priest.
      4. A wandering Levite sells his services to the man as priest for his idol.
      5. A large force of Danite warriors see the idol, rob the family of it, and persuade the priest to go with them for greater reward.
      6. The next chapter of Judges tells an even more sordid story of "whim."
    2. They did not need a Ralph Waldo Emerson to teach them to do this.
    3. It is in our nature to be selfish, but because the precepts of unselfishness have been so widely received in our world, the Emersons of the world have to re educate us to be selfish!
  2. All sin springs from selfishness.
    1. Stealing, coupled with covetousness, is the unlawful confiscation of the goods of others (who have earned it lawfully).
      1. RESULT: the thief enjoys what he has denied to the rightful owners.
      2. The Scripture opposes it. Titus 2:9-10, Ephesians 4:28, 1 Peter 4:15
    2. Adultery is the fruit of a search for sensual satisfaction at others' expense.
      1. RESULT: divorce, rage, abandonment of children, violence (murder?).
      2. The Scripture teaches-- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, 1 Corinthians 6:18-7:3
    3. Lying is practiced to gain advantage over others, or to serve selfish ends.
      1. RESULT: Those deceived by lies needlessly suffer loss from them.
      2. The Scriptures forbid lying. Colossians 3:9-10, Titus 1:10-12
    4. Drunkenness is done for self-pity, or self-indulgence, often hurting others.
      1. RESULT: Discretion leaves the drinker, and he falls into other sins.
      2. The Scriptures condemn it. Leviticus 10:8-11, Romans 13:13-14
    5. False religion follows no standard but the "whim" of the worshipper.
      1. RESULT:Such whims have fostered hundreds of denominations, cults, and over a dozen factions in the church of the Lord.
      2. The Scriptures rail against it. 2 Timothy 4:1-4
  3. Christianity is built on the principle of denial of self.
    1. Jesus on discipleship. Matthew 16:24 (Compare 2 Timothy 2:3-13.)
    2. It effects our relationship with God. Romans 14:7-8
    3. It is important to our fellowship with others. Philippians 2:1-4, Romans 15:1 3a

APPLICATION-- There is only one place and time to be selfish (Acts 2:38-41), but after that we should deny ourselves. It will serve well in all relationships (marriage, family, business, work for the Lord, etc.).