Mom And Dad Are Going To Kill Me…

“Mom and dad are going to kill me…”

Statements like these point us beyond definitions to our next factor: selfishness.

Selfishness

A third factor looks at a biblical concept: selfishness. Every case at the beginning of the post is indicative of selfishness. All the statements point to one person’s reckless impulse for something,  You find no concern for how it affects others.

The New Testament uses the word ‘selfish’ only four times. The references are: Galatians 5:20; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Philippians 1:16 and 2:3. That is it. Strong, known for his many word definitions, said the Greek word is “found before the New Testament times [being used] only by Aristotle, where it denotes self-seekers pursuits of political offices by unfair means. Paul exhorts Christians to be one in mind of Christ, not putting self forward, being unselfish (Phil 2)” Putting one's own interests before the interests of others (selfishness) is diametrically opposed to Christianity. Christians place the needs of others before themselves, just as Jesus did.

A fourth factor, also biblical, is what God has said regarding these key words previously defined.

Individuals with immoral behavior are lead to “death,” and they do not “regain the path of life,” according to Proverbs 2:18-19. In the New Testament, James wrote how ripened sin “brings forth death.” All sex outside of legitimate marriage is called fornication. Fornication is a sin. When men participate in sexual 'adventures' with a woman who is not their wife, they sin (fornicate). The consequence is death. A woman has a 'fling' with a man who is not her husband. She, too, is fornicating, sinning, and a death will follow.

When God spoke of killing in the Old Testament, He was plain. “Whoever kills.... shall be put to death,” Leviticus 24:17 says. Exodus 21:14  says premeditated killing should not happen. Exodus 23:7 directly says the Jews were not to kill the innocent and righteous.

Murder is a stronger term and is employed frequently. The Old Testament writings expose God’s view of murder. In the 10 Commandments, Exodus 20:13 says people should “not murder.” This is echoed in Deuteronomy 5:17. Anyone using implements, stones, or wood to kill “shall surely be put to death,” according to Numbers 35:16-18. The New Testament, under which we live, declare a higher criteria for living. Matthew 5:21-22 reports Jesus saying “You have heard you shall not murder...But I say to you whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” In Mark 7:21, Jesus indicates the heart produces evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, and murder. Paul is clear in Romans 1:28-32. Those who “do not retain God in their knowledge,” He has given them over to do unfit things, including sexual immorality, wickedness, and murder. People living this addiction are “haters of God... violent, ...unloving.” Galatians 5:21 indicates murders will not “inherit the kingdom of God.” Murderers will not go to heaven. Peter tells his audience no Christian should be spoken of as a murderer (1 Peter 4:15). Why would Cain murder Abel? John’s answer is because his works were evil (1 John 3:12). Three verses later John adds hating our brother makes us murderers. Finally, in Revelation 21:8, murderers are grouped with the sexually immoral. They will be in the second death (sent to hell).

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What would you like to add to selfishness?

Do you have an example or a story of selfishness? Please, share it here. Click on the ‘comments’ link below.

For the first post on abortion, click here. The third installment will be posted shortly.