Post by Emmanuel A. O. on Feb 8, 2013 0:36:27 GMT 1
The Pedestal of ‘Self’. TEXT: Mark 10:35-45
“They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory” (Mark 10:37)
Concerned person once remarked to the medical director of a mental hospital, “I imagine that all the people in here are ‘beside’ themselves.” “Oh no, you are wrong,” replied the doctor. “Actually, they are shut in here, not because they are ‘beside’ themselves, but because they are ‘inside’ themselves. They think of nothing else but self.”
The modern world of today is one vast sanitorium where virtually everyone is ‘inside’ himself. The rat-race of making ends meet, has introduced the Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest”. Everyone wants to “make it” at the expense of another person. Someone’s castle is built upon another’s grave. The world is filled with selfishness, self-centredness, covetousness, greed and avarice.
James and his brother John privately came to the Lord Jesus Christ to make a selfish demand. The duo desired to be appointed the “Prime Minister and the Minister of Exchequer (Finance Minister),” in the proposed kingdom of Christ. Though the Lord did not grant their requests, the other ten disciples were greatly indignant against James and John, for being selfish and self-serving.
The Lord Jesus Christ then took time to counsel and exhort both parties on the differences between principles and precepts operating in this present world, and that of the kingdom of God. Service based on love, is the regimen of the kingdom of God. In the royal service of God’s kingdom, self is dethroned and Christ is enthroned. Selflessness replaces selfishness.
Jesus prescribes this regimen of love to all facets of Christian life and relationships. If the principle was adhered to, there would have been no need for conflict resolutions either nationally or internationally today. In our own lives then, there must be a paradigm shift from self-centredness to selflessness, either in the home, office, community, church or elsewhere.
Thought for the day:
A selfish man is a man ‘inside’ himself.
“They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory” (Mark 10:37)
Concerned person once remarked to the medical director of a mental hospital, “I imagine that all the people in here are ‘beside’ themselves.” “Oh no, you are wrong,” replied the doctor. “Actually, they are shut in here, not because they are ‘beside’ themselves, but because they are ‘inside’ themselves. They think of nothing else but self.”
The modern world of today is one vast sanitorium where virtually everyone is ‘inside’ himself. The rat-race of making ends meet, has introduced the Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest”. Everyone wants to “make it” at the expense of another person. Someone’s castle is built upon another’s grave. The world is filled with selfishness, self-centredness, covetousness, greed and avarice.
James and his brother John privately came to the Lord Jesus Christ to make a selfish demand. The duo desired to be appointed the “Prime Minister and the Minister of Exchequer (Finance Minister),” in the proposed kingdom of Christ. Though the Lord did not grant their requests, the other ten disciples were greatly indignant against James and John, for being selfish and self-serving.
The Lord Jesus Christ then took time to counsel and exhort both parties on the differences between principles and precepts operating in this present world, and that of the kingdom of God. Service based on love, is the regimen of the kingdom of God. In the royal service of God’s kingdom, self is dethroned and Christ is enthroned. Selflessness replaces selfishness.
Jesus prescribes this regimen of love to all facets of Christian life and relationships. If the principle was adhered to, there would have been no need for conflict resolutions either nationally or internationally today. In our own lives then, there must be a paradigm shift from self-centredness to selflessness, either in the home, office, community, church or elsewhere.
Thought for the day:
A selfish man is a man ‘inside’ himself.