DYING TO SELF WILL

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A.B. Simpson gets the credit for many of the ideas in this lesson.

DYING TO SELF WILL

(A. B. Simpson)

James 1:13-15
I John 2:15-17

When we read scriptures about sinning, we naturally tend to think of the more obvious sins—adultery, murder, rage, etc.

However, Satan doesn’t generally tempt Christians on that level. With Christians, the sins take on a more sophisticated look. I like to call them “sins of sophistication.” They are sins that are not easily noticed by others. They can creep into a Christian’s life and destroy our effectiveness.

We are going to discuss eleven different sins. I am including myself as we talk about our struggle with these. None of us is immune. Like Paul, we need to press on to take hold…Phil. 3:12

1. self-indulgence
Doing a thing because you like to do it to the detriment of God’s kingdom.

Examples: What should be our attitude toward food if we are to “die” to self-indulgence?

Gluttony is a direct result of the sin of self-indulgence. Remember there are more skinner gluttons than fat ones. You can’t tell a glutton by their weight!

How can the sin of self-indulgence manifest itself in materialism?

2. Self-complacency
Dwelling on the work that you have done.

Self-complacency is being more interested in what others think of you, than in what you are really like.

This is actually a form of vanity. “Resting on our laurels.”

A real danger here is to create this attitude in others by building up their vanity. How could this be done?

3. Self-confidence
Confidence in our own strength.

We try to instill self-confidence in our children. However, where does our strength come from?

The correct terminology is “God-confidence.”
Humility is the opposite of self-confidence.

I doubt that it is possible for a self-confident person to become a Christian. We must humble ourselves before God.

To have humility simply means to recognize our source of strength. We have been fooled by the world. We need to teach our children who they are in Christ, not who they are in themselves.

4. Self-sensitivity
The susceptibility of your feelings to being wounded.
This is an easy one to have.

I wish every one of us in this church could have a deep, caring sensitivity to others; and yet have a hard shell when our own rights are violated.

The Bible makes it very clear that we should rejoice when treated wrongly for the sake of Christ. (I. Peter 4:12-19)
Self-sensitivity is the greatest cause of church splits. Someone gets their nose out of joint, and it goes from there.

There is no disagreement that they were treated wrongly. However, the burden of forgiveness is always with the one who has been wronged, even if the other person never asks to be forgiven!

As Christians, we are called to rise above self-sensitivity.
Ephesians talks about “making allowances”

It breaks down communication;
It causes people to take sides;
It destroys the power of binding together in prayer.

If you are dealing with bitterness from past years, ask God to cut it out.

As Christians, we have a calling on our lives to be an example of righteousness to others.

5. Selfish affection
Wanting people to love you because you like to be loved.

We should not love others to please us, but to bless them.
Paul said in 2 Cor. 12:15 “I will gladly spend and be spent for you—the more I love—the less I am loved…”

Selfish affection is the motive behind Scientology. What goes around comes around. Be nice to your neighbor so he will be nice to you. What is the real reason for being nice to your neighbor?

6. Selfish desires
James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motive…”
Can you give me a practical example of selfish desires?

7. Covetousness
Desiring for yourself what rightfully belongs to someone else.

You wouldn’t think Christians would have a problem with this! However, it is easy to covet a job in the church that has been given to someone else.
Example: your class is given to another teacher

Who does that class belong to? You or God?

8. Selfish motives
Having actions which fulfill selfish desires

This is a continuation of #6. We actually go out and fulfill those desires.

Another definition: Manipulating circumstances so you benefit to the detriment of others.
Example: you walk in a room—6 tables, 4 with treats, and 50 more people are behind you. Where will you sit?

Example: a church potluck where there is not enough food. We you be in the front of the line?

What would Jesus do?

9. Selfish possessions
Refusing to relinquish property in our stewardship to its rightful owner.

Who is the rightful owner?
We don’t own it, and yet we refuse to give it up.
Selfish possessions shows itself when we are asked to give sacrificially.
Example: You’re saving money for tires—God asks you to give to a special need. Whose money is it?

10.Selfish sorrows
Tears we shed for our own sorrows.

This doesn’t mean we are never sad.
Rather—crying the blues because we don’t have better “bread.”
Or someone has a nicer car…etc.

We weep because something is dearer than Christ.

God wants us to weep, but in intercessory prayer.

11.Self-sacrifice or denial
Denying pleasure to ourselves with the intent of becoming more acceptable before the throne of God.

This is the essence of humanistic religions the world over.

Mormans—work your way to heaven
Jehovah’s Wit.—witness
Eastern—crawl to the shrine

Self-denial was taught by Plato. Deny the flesh to build up the mind.

However, it has crept into the church. We established monasteries. They denied themselves things God has meant for us to enjoy.
Man’s attempt to reach God has always been through this avenue of self-denial.

But we are also tempted—
Maybe if I never miss church…
Pray one hour each day…
Drive a new car…
Drive an old car…
Wear old clothes…
Wear new clothes…

The beauty of salvation is that we are acceptable by what Jesus did on the cross. We can add nothing to that finished work.

We are not under bondage, but freedom. We attend church because we enjoy worshiping God and the fellowship of the Saints. We serve God not out of guilt, but love.