Be The Fruit

Idolatry Thursday – What’s in it for me?

by Bill Blair on 22/05/08 at 5:17 am

The title, “What’s in it for me?” could be called “Selfish Christianity.”  Can there really be such a thing as selfish Christianity?    There should not be, because when a Christian becomes selfish, they have made themselves to be an idol before God.  Let me dig in a little deeper about what I mean about selfish Christianity.

It seems like the modern American church has become increasingly individualistic which has led to selfishness.  Much attention is given to “what God is doing for me,” my salvation, my walk, and my relationship with Christ.  There seems to very little talk about what God is doing for the whole community or even the whole world.  Now those ideas are not necessarily bad, but I think they can feed a selfish spirit in the church.

How does this selfish spirit manifest itself in the church?  First, I think it comes out in why people choose the congregations they belong to.  When asked, most people tend to list all of the services that their church provides.  It may be good music, good preaching, great youth program, great children’s ministry, or any number of other things.  All of these things are good for churches to have, but there is an underlying problem with an answer like this.  This problem is that it suggests that the only allegiance people have with their church is what that church offers them, or what that church does for them.  People need to remember that “the Church” is the body of believers and not just the organization that holds a service for their spiritual pleasure every week.  The Church is a community, not a spiritual service organization.

Another way selfishness manifests itself in the church is in the reasons people serve.  How many times have you said or heard the following statement:  “It will do so much for you?”  We are told to go on a mission trip.  Why?  Not because there is a place that is ripe for the gospel, but because it will help us grow.  We are told to serve in the preschool area.  Why?  Not because there is a great need to take care of little children so their parents can hear a message in peace, but it is because “it will do so much for you.”  I know you have heard this before.  Hey, I have even said it myself.

Why does everything have to benefit us?  Personal growth surely is a byproduct of service, but it should not be the primary reason for serving.  Let us look to the Scriptures to see what our motives should be.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests of others.” (Phil 2:3-4, NASB95).  (Read 1-8)

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves” (Rom 15:1, NASB95).

“And [Jesus] was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me’” (Luke 9:23, NASB95)

Those are just three passages that instruct us not be selfish in our actions.  Think about your motives when you serve.  Think about how ask people to serve.  Remember it is not about us.

The bottom line is that when we become selfish, we are seeking to glorify ourselves and not God.  We put ourselves before God, and we become the God of our life.

Remember one last thing.  When we become selfish, we cease to be love because love “does not seek its own” (1 Cor 13:5).

Until next time, put God first and “be the fruit.”