The culture at large has become increasingly self-centered. This is no surprise, since from the beginning, Satan has succeeded in tempting mankind to serve self by doing what we think is best and doubting God’s Word (Genesis 3:1-7). Throughout history, Satan continued to corrupt what God had made good. At times, Israel doubted, “Will God really deliver us?” “We can just worship this golden calf as our god” (Exodus 32; Numbers 14). Just within the last few hundred years, especially with the acceptance of Darwinism, man has questioned whether the Genesis record can be trusted. “Did God really make the earth in six literal days?” Today, we live in the age of thinking, “Does God really exist?” and we are seeing the fruits of atheistic reasoning. Man is his own god (2 Timothy 3:1-5)!
Therefore, in such a humanistic culture, we see the serving of self in the world every day. The media parades the philosophy of self before our eyes every time we turn on the TV or computer. Ads are full of beautiful and handsome (but often indecently dressed) individuals persuading us that we need whatever product in our lives, and many times we think to ourselves, “I could look like that and be happy like them if I bought the product.” Technology today allows us instant self-gratification. We order things for next day delivery; we download and upload whatever we want; everything is at our fingertips. Slogans such as “believe in yourself,” “do what makes you happy” and “have it your way” are common. Taking pictures of oneself has become a popular trend on social media (called selfies). What goes through our minds when we do and see these? “I’m not as pretty as she is,” “I hope so-and-so sees how beautiful/handsome I look in this picture,” “She/He is so thin; I wish I could look like that.”
The breakdown of the home is another result of the problem of selfism. Husbands and wives are so quick to divorce, not wanting to put the hard work and sacrifice into maintaining a loving marriage. Children (if they are not killed in the womb) are often left alone as parents/guardians work long hours. The list of examples could go on, but we can easily see how distracted we are with ourselves! Although some of these things are not necessarily sinful (like ordering express shipping), they do influence us, and we must ask the question whether the influence is for the better or the worse.
Some may ask, what is really wrong with such thinking? Why can’t I think about myself and let others think about themselves? The simple answer is, God’s Word teaches the opposite. We are not to always be thinking about ourselves – our feelings, our wants and even our needs. We can see this just by reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). As noted earlier, Satan has deceived us into believing the lie that we are most happy (and our happiness is of utmost importance) when serving ourselves. Evolution – a philosophy that teaches man arose from single-celled organisms, evolved over billions of years and has survived by being the “fittest” – has given selfism a foothold as more people accepted this lie and thus conclude “number one” must be top priority. This kind of thinking undermines Christianity, and if we are not careful, we Christians will look, walk and talk just like the world – no longer being the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16, 44-48; 6:30-33)!
What is to be done? How do Christians fight against the philosophy of self? We must be diligent students of His Word. Jesus said, “…If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32 NKJV). We have Truth! Not a truth but the Truth! Are we spending more time with Truth or with the distractions of this world (watching movies, playing games, hobbies, etc.)? Let us honestly evaluate ourselves where our heart is – laying up treasures on earth (serving self) or laying up treasures in Heaven (serving others). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). We must remind ourselves every day that self-seeking is damnable (Matthew 23:25; Romans 2:8; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:20; Colossians 2:23; 2 Peter 2:9-10). Study these passages in their respective contexts and spend time in prayer to God about overcoming self and serving God alone (Matthew 6:24; James 3:13-18; Romans 12:1-2). “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3).