Sep
18
Fighting Human Nature
Filed Under Devotional
It’s probably not until late grade school that a child begins to understand that others may have feelings and desires that don’t coincide with their own and may have actually have higher priority. But, this realization doesn’t mean a change of behavior right away. It takes years.
I know middle-aged folks who still don’t think much past their own wants. It’s a learned skill. It takes training and practice to be aware of others and, then, to act in the interest of others. We were designed to act this way, but it’s not the way we’re bent after The Fall. Now, we have to resist our human nature to be anything other than self-centered.
A counselor friend of ours said that preparing for marriage is all about moving from the single, self-centered life to the other-centered life. If you figure that out, you can survive almost anything. If you don’t, the entire effort will be a struggle and likely to fail. This is a foundational aspect of your life that will support or oppose your every action.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4
I’ve read this verse dozens of times and it seems obvious. It may be simple, but it is central to all we do to serve Christ and each other. It’s all about stopping the self-centered worldview and moving to a new perspective where others come first.
It’s hard to change your perspective when you’re stuck in a rut. Are you ready to break out and see things from a different view? Are you ready move out of the center and let others take that place?
Are you ready to fight human nature?