We are naturally self-centered. We live as if we are the center of the universe. We live to achieve what we want in life. We live for the aim of our self-centered pursuits in life. Our dreams, wants, and longings revolve around us.
Self. Self. Self. Is our priority.
But as we try every day to live for ourselves, we become disappointed, ashamed, and embarrassed because ourselves are bound to disappoint, shame, and embarrass us. We are fallible, finite, imperfect, and flawed creatures. Thus, living for oneself means dealing with failure, limits, imperfections, and flaws every day. Sadly, we try to do it anyway. But the application of saving grace through faith in Christ allows us to live for Someone greater; Someone infallible, infinite, perfect, and flawless. Someone who will never disappoint us because of who He is. Though that is the case, we know that it’s a daily struggle to either live for God or live for self.
So, what do we do when self-centeredness sets in?
Firstly, we remind ourselves that God does all things for His glory and not for us. This sobering and humbling reality crushes the self-centeredness in our hearts. God is God-centered and not man-centered. This realization will make us think as God-centered people. God created us for His glory. (Isa. 43:7) That’s our proper design. Living for anything less will just corrupt our souls and make a fool of ourselves. This foolishness is clearly seen in social media. There are times that we share, post, and comment stuff in social media as though we are the star of the show. Sadly, there are times that we rob God of His glory instead of crediting glory that is due to His name. Let us cry out with the psalmist, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Psa. 115:1)
Secondly, we cultivate joy in the shadows just as when John the Baptist was glad and not sad when his disciples left him to follow Jesus because he knew it was not about him and was all about Christ. Let us gladly say in our hearts with John the Baptist, “He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3:30) Having less at the expense of self for the glory of Christ is what life all about. If we do not accept that reality, we will just be disheartened every time God takes away things, people, and opportunities in our lives. But if we have conditioned our minds that God takes away things from us so that we would be humble and for God alone to be exalted in our lives then we would joyfully and peacefully accept whatever comes our way. And I pray that it would cause us to worship God just like when Job said despite of everything and everyone that he lost, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21)
Thirdly, we live for others. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not come to be served but to serve. He set a humble and lowly example for us to follow. Let us cultivate the mind that we have in Christ by not doing anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. (Phil. 2:3) We should cultivate humility by considering that others are more important than us and acting as though they are really more important by being humble servants. (Phil. 2:3) Let us be people who are constantly looking out for the needs and interests of others and not just live for ourselves. (Phil. 2:4) Life is not meant to be lived self-centeredly. We are designed to find our true and lasting joy when we live for the glory of God and the good of others.
Fourthly, we are to credit God for all the good things happening to us. Paul says in Romans 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” He is the giver of all things. He ordains the means for us to receive the good things He wants to give us. And all things are due to Him. That is why He alone should be glorified and not us. We should not try to credit ourselves with the things that could be achieve by grace alone. Let us say with the apostle Paul, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Cor. 15:10) Everything about us and the things that we do are not because of us but ultimately because of the marvelous grace of God that saves, sanctifies, empowers, transforms, and preserves. Let us be quick to give the glory to God and not rob Him of the glory He rightfully deserves.
By grace alone 