It’s a common internal struggle between what we call “the flesh” and the spirit. The desires of the body don’t seem to be aligned with the desires of the spirit. What if they could? Don’t kill the innate interest to serve yourself. Instead, rewire your thinking so that you naturally run toward self-denial as a self-interested behavior.
Jesus did not reject our inner desire to serve ourselves. He just gave it a Kingdom direction.
The disciples argued who was the best. You might think Jesus would condemn them for it. Instead, He gives them the pathway to being the best. “If you want to be first, be last. Whoever wants to be the greatest among you, become the servant of all.” Jesus invites us to be the greatest!
Some say the self-interested behavior inside us is a part of the fall and original sin. I say it’s God’s design. He, too, wants the best outcome for Himself. For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. Jesus does not avoid the pain. Instead, He endures it to win the prize. For Him, we are the reward He wanted. His death was for a higher valued purpose. The sacrifice achieved something brilliant. We share His desire for the same thing. We get sideways on how to aim self-serving behaviors.
So many times, I have heard in the pews that sin is pervasive because it is self-centered. Why is it taught this way? Sin is self-destruction. Sin leads to unfulfillment, broken relationships, loneliness, and death, to name a few outcomes. How is it self-serving to desire such things? No, we need to realize that self-interest is good. The body or flesh is confused about what’s best for it.
Self-interest is hardwired into our existence. We want a life of success. We desire the love of others. We like to be rewarded for our work. We avoid self-harm. Christians don’t even want to die to get to heaven!
Your body and brain must be trained to understand what’s best through God’s perspective. Once the mind takes authority over the body through self-control, it will automatically desire to serve others in love as the obvious self-interested choice. This behavior is genuinely life-giving!
In Corinthians, Paul explains that his reason for sacrificing for the gospel is so that he might partake of it (1 Corinthians 9:23). He goes on to describe a runner in a race who runs with the goal of winning the prize. He exercises self-control in all things to win. Paul points out that we should do the same with the goal focused on an eternal reward. We want to hear the message from Jesus, “Well done.” The sacrifices we make are for our gain.
Jesus said that the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come to give life and life to full (John 10:10). Who in their right mind would sacrifice the latter for the former?! Of course, we desire life to the full. Jesus outlines the pathway to life “to the full” through His commands. He says we will be wise if we believe and live His commands. He also says you’re a fool if you know His commands but don’t live them. He is appealing to our self-interest to be wise.
Stop thinking that self-sacrifice is a lesser path or less fulfilling in this world. Devils win by fooling us into believing that sin is indulgence. If you’d like to serve yourself in the best possible way here on earth and into eternity, you will deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus.
In your corner,
Rob
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