Welcome. Today we’re going to be talking about a mindset that has pervaded our society and ways of life. This mindset is the idea of ‘me first’. We have overwhelmingly become a nation and even world of people who are all for looking out for number one first and sometimes only. This is not the way we are taught to be in the Bible.

I think the Word-Faith movement and the gospel of prosperity teachings have shown us just how badly this line of thought has penetrated our society and even our Christian teachings. The appeal to greed and self serving interests seem to be growing every day.

We see that in Jesus’ lifetime, there were those that were either called or that volunteered to follow Christ, but wanted to do so in their own manner. They wanted to set the conditions on their service. We can see this in Luke chapter 9, from verse 57 through the end of the chapter.

With each of these people who try to set their own terms, they are instead told that they cannot dictate to God how things are supposed to be. The first man wanted to bury his father, and Jesus said, no, let the dead worry for the dead, instead come and serve by preaching the kingdom of God. The second man doesn’t even want to do anything serious but just wanted to tell his family goodbye. Jesus tells this man that there’s no reason to go at all if you are just going to start then turn away to do something else.

Jesus was also against this whole ‘me first’ mentality, as He demonstrated in His teachings. (Luk 9:23) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Instead of looking out for ourselves, we are to deny ourselves and our egos and instead give our primary thoughts over to Jesus Christ.

(Luk 14:26) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Here we see we are to ‘hate’ our own lives. That is to say value God far beyond our worldly life. This means we cannot let anything stand between ourselves and God. To do so is to promote idolatry. (1Co 10:14) Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Let’s look at some of the ways we can fall prey to this ‘me first’ mentality.

We can show our self centered nature in our forms of assembly. (Heb 10:25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. We are to be together with other Christians. Now I know in this world today it is getting hard at times to find a good Bible believing church, but we should try to find one. I do believe that you can ‘assemble’ so to speak in the virtual world in the communities of Christians we find online in forums, chatrooms, podcasts, videos, and other forms of communication over the internet.

People do not want to assemble themselves together because it cuts into their ‘me time’. They won’t go to church because they don’t want to miss the game on Sunday. Maybe they want to do nothing more than sleep in and cannot be bothered to get up and get moving. They won’t take time to seek out fellow Christian friends in the real world or even in the virtual world. No matter the excuse, it is usually a self centered one.

Another sign of our ‘me first’ mentality is the way we contribute to our churches or other ministries. (2Co 9:7) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. But people are not cheerful givers, not at all.

Instead, people want to keep their money for themselves, and have as much as possible to spend in a selfish manner. They want the newest toys, the latest gadget, and the biggest home. The world is more interested in appearance and materialism instead of spirituality and God.

Then we also have the problem of luxuries that people think they cannot live without. They end up spending money that they could have given to the church on things like cable, cell phone plans, and satellite radios.

You don’t need these things. You don’t need cable television, you don’t need satellite radio, you don’t need unlimited text on your cell phone. These things are luxuries. You’d be surprised what you could live without.

You could easily make it with a pair of rabbit ears in most locations. In fact, it’s probably better that you don’t have hellivision invading your home. A few channels and the local news should be more than enough. You can get more than enough radio over the broadcast channels. Radio is just about as bad as television when it comes to inappropriate content. The Smart Faith podcast features a few shows talking about evil in music, with some coming in the future, I do believe.

You don’t need a set of jet skis that you use once or twice a year. You can do without all these things, and learn to be a cheerful giver, supporting the ministries of your choice. Instead of thinking of what you want, you can come to think about what God wants.

And what does God want, in this particular area? He wants the Gospel spread to the ends of the earth so that everyone has a chance to hear about Jesus and be saved. (2Pe 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Hoarding your money for yourself is one of the first signs of a ‘me first’ mentality.

Another ‘me first’ situation arises in regards to how we serve each other. We are commanded to love our neighbors, and that means to do well by them, as we see in Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, and Galatians 5:14. This means that we have to be willing to put others before ourselves.

I believe we all have talents and gifts given to us by the Lord. For example some people can sing, others can act, and yet others are mechanically adept. No matter what, I think everyone has something given to them by the Lord. These gifts are to be used to serve the Lord, but also to help each other out. I believe that I have been given the gift of gab, and I praise God with words, but I also want to serve my fellow man by speaking as well. That’s the reason I am a podcaster. I imagine that same desire to serve God and be a benefit to others drives most, if not all, of the other Christian speakers out there, no matter what their forum.

(1Pe 4:10) As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Share your gifts, plain and simple. But the ‘me first’ attitude isn’t so open to such an idea. Think about it, there are many that go to church and don’t know everyone else’s names. I’m not just talking about mega churches either, I’m talking about your smaller, averaged sized churches. So many people don’t care about getting to know one another any more and you cannot love and be friends with someone you don’t know. You can’t get to know anyone if you keep to yourself in your pew and bolt for the door at the final ‘amen’.

Many people are not even willing to try to discover the gifts they’ve been given, let alone use them in service to the Lord or each other. This is because there is no compensation, no motivation for doing so. Service to the Lord is not something you should expect a salary from. Now don’t get me wrong, if you are a preacher or something, then you understand what I’m getting at anyway, and yes, you deserve to make a living the same as anyone else. What I am saying is that us laymen often shirk even discovering our talents and gifts because there is no payment for doing so. There is no payoff for me, so my ‘me first’ mindset leads me to not even bother with my gifts and talents.

By not being willing to give back to the church shows a ‘me first’ mentality. You’re more interested in serving yourself in some manner, either by being only concerned with receiving the teaching, or because you are serving some self centered need to keep up appearances as a ‘Sunday morning’ Christian or something similar.

Another sign of a ‘me first’ mentality can be seen in how we deal with our families. We all have a role in the family, no matter how big or how small, no matter how young or old we are. Everyone has a place in a family, and how we treat our families shows the disposition of our hearts.

(Col 3:18) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. (Col 3:19) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. (Col 3:20) Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Col 3:21) Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. These are some general guidelines as to what each person’s role in the family is. To hold true to these guidelines one must put the relationships ahead of one’s own personal desires. It’s not easy to always have a loving relationship, you have to work at it.

When you have a person in the family put their own interests beyond those of the family itself, it is oftentimes disastrous for the unit as a whole. Look at what happens when you have an alcoholic father that blows the rent money on booze, or a mother hooked on drugs that neglects her children. Even a selfish child that demands a certain lifestyle can take a great deal away from the family.

Children who are disobedient show a ‘me first’ mentality. They are selfish and self centered, or otherwise they would be obedient. Divorce is another self serving action that puts the one above all others. The person initiating the divorce, either directly or by acting in a way that causes the divorce, is getting their way while the rest of the family suffers. Many times there are two families that suffer, not just one. The pain is inflicted on two sets of people that did not deserve it or ask for it.

So, are there any examples for us of ‘others first’ in the Bible? Of course there is, in fact the Bible is overflowing with them. Jesus Christ Himself was a shining example of ‘others first’ and the mindset we should have.

(2Co 8:9) For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. You see, Jesus had it all, He was absolutely loaded, but He gave everything up to provide salvation for all mankind. He had you, and me, in the forefront of His mind, and not Himself.

(Mat 20:28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. This ‘others first’ mentality here is being displayed by the literal creator of the universe! (Joh 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Joh 1:2) The same was in the beginning with God. (Joh 1:3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

(Php 2:3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Php 2:4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Php 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Php 2:6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (Php 2:7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Php 2:8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

In those verses we’re being told to place others above ourselves, and to be humble in front of our fellow man. We are told to take care of each other, to serve each other with the gifts that we do have. Jesus Himself humbled Himself and became a servant to the point of even dying on the cross for our sins. This is the ultimate humility.

(2Co 8:1) Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; (2Co 8:2) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. (2Co 8:3) For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; (2Co 8:4) Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

Here we see another example of humility for us, the church at Macedonia. They had great trials and afflictions and yet they were still joyous. They experienced deep poverty but yet were still overflowing with riches.

Now why did they have these things? Because they did not have a ‘me first’ mentality, they were willing to look to others first. (2Co 8:5) And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. They gave to God foremost, as we all should, but then they gave to others instead of hoarding up for themselves. This is one of the reasons they were so blessed.

Because they gave, and if you give first, and have an ‘others first’ mentality, the Lord will bless you. (Php 4:19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. God has more than enough riches to provide all that you need, no matter what you need. God will see to it.

Do you have a ‘me first’ mentality? If you do, then you have a problem. It’s hard to follow Christ when you’re not looking to Him but to yourself and your own selfish needs first. You cannot be a follower if you are looking in the mirror. You’ll wander off the path and fall in the ditch.

When we have this mentality we also suffer in our spiritual lives. We do not find the wisdom in the Word as we work through it, instead we are blinded by our own selfish desires.

To remove this ‘me first’ mentality from ourselves we must come to adopt an ‘others first’ policy in our lives. (Mat 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. When you seek the kingdom of God first, you’ll come to put others ahead of yourself as the Scripture dictates, and you’ll consider yourself in the proper manner naturally.

Be mindful of others. Don’t allow yourself to fall into a ‘me first’ attitude. Serve each other, minister to your fellow man, be helpful. If a man asks for your coat, give him your shirt also. Do these things, and God will bless you. God will supply what you need in this life. Be humble, it is a virtue. Until next time, God bless.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 at 8:40 pm and is filed under Uncategorized | . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.