Sin Grows from the Seeds of Selfishness

In Matthew 24:12 I read, “There will be more and more evil in the world, so most people will stop showing their love for each other.” (NCV)

Someone once asked Jesus, “What’s the most important command in Scripture?” He replied, “There are two of them: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

If those are God’s two most important commands, then their opposite, not loving God and not loving your neighbor, is sin. Sin is always unloving.

Matthew 24:12 says, “There will be more and more evil in the world, so most people will stop showing their love for each other” (NCV). People in general have become more critical, less civil, and ruder than ever. Why? Because as sin increases, love decreases.

Sin is unhelpful, unhealthy, unfair, unwise, untruthful, and it is always selfish.

We often tell ourselves we’re doing something for the benefit of others when we’re really doing it for our own benefit. The Bible says, “Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind” (James 3:16 NLT). At the root of every sin is self-centeredness.

Why am I here on earth? God did not make me live for myself. I was made for something far bigger than that.

I have been made by God and for God, and until I understand and believe that, life’s never going to make sense. God didn’t create me so that I could center my life on myself and push other people to the side. I was made to know God, enjoy him, have a friendship with him, serve him, and center my life on him.

Whatever I build my life around is my god, whether it’s your job, homelife or a sport or even another person.

God wants me to center my life on him, but sin will always put the focus back on me. Choose love. Where love is abundant, selfishness will not grow.

In summary, evil will increase and most will stop showing their love for each other. Jesus tells me that the most important command in Scripture is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. The opposite, is to not love God and not love your neighbor. This is sin and sin is always unloving. In general people have become more critical, less civil, and ruder than ever. As sin increases, love decreases. Sin is unhelpful, unhealthy, unfair, unwise, untruthful, and it is always selfish. Often we tell ourselves we’re doing something for the benefit of others when we’re really doing it for our own benefit. At the root of every sin is self-centeredness. God did not make me live for myself. I was made for something far bigger than that. I have been made by God and for God. God didn’t create me so that I could center my life on myself and push others aside. I was made to know God, enjoy him, have a friendship with him, serve him, and center my life on him. So whatever I end up building my life around will be my god. God wants me to center my life on him. Sin will always put the focus back on me. So choose love. Where love is abundant, selfishness will not grow.

Father, today I consider if I’m really serving you or if I’m putting something else ahead of you in my life. A lot of inner thoughts come back to what job role you have planned for me when my time in my current role comes to an end. I do seek to serve those I work with, but there are times when it seems I may not be able to help them. Father I do want to embrace and do what you put me here to do, so that I can fulfill your purpose. With the help of the Holy Spirit, help me to put my focus on loving you and loving others. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I also put my trust in you for my future work role. Also thank you for the healing I’m experiencing with my head cold. These things I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, amen.