|9.1| Root of the Problem|
9.2| Many of us have been taught a self-annihilation doctrine for solong that it makes sense to us. After all, isn’t self-centeredness at thecore of our sinfulness? Aren’t we supposed to deny ourselves and givesacrificially to God and others?
|9.3| Certainly, self-centeredness is at the core of our sinfulness. In Lu-cifer’s heart it all began, as this once-most magnificent of angels re-sisted simple obedience, trying instead to put himself above God.Through Adam and Eve, we inherited this tendency to dethrone Godand put ourselves in the center of the universe.|
9.4| This is a serious problem. When we refuse to see God for who heis-and ourselves for who we are-we deny the truth that he is God andwe are his creatures. We put ourselves on the throne that only Godshould occupy. We idolize ourselves. We worship and serve “createdthings rather than the Creator” (Rom. 1:25).
|9.5| Not only is it true that self-centeredness is at the core of our sinful-ness, but also we are to deny ourselves and sacrificially give to God andothers. In fact, Jesus summarized the entire Law and the Prophets undertwo simple commands: Love the Lord your God, and love your neigh-bor as yourself(Matt. 22:37-40). Our love for others shows that we be-long to God.
We are to give from our fullness wholeheartedly as Jesus did. He made himself “nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, be-ing made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on across!” (Phil. 2:7-8).
HENRY CLOUD
By: Apostolic Life via Apostolic Life ( Prayer Warriors)
Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. –Les Brown
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