Are You SELF-Pleasuring?

Audio version in the middle of this blog...just scroll down and press play to read along.

2 Timothy 3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying it's power.(NKJV)

          I bet when you looked at the title, you probably thought that I was talking about masturbation. Well, in a sense, I am. However, I'm not talking about the sexual kind, I'm talking about the desire to think only about "self" instead of the things of God. The world we live in has increasingly become all about "self" and what someone can do for ME. It seems as if love has truly been left out many aspects of our society. Matthew 24:12 says, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold." (NIV) This is even taking place in some of the churches. People can walk right pass each other and not even speak, but be the first ones to shout Hallelujah. 

                Many times, the world only thinks of others when a crisis hits them personally or around Christmas time. Even then, the mad rush to get through the holiday doors have cost people their lives because of others' lack of regard for human life. They have been seen on camera literally tramping over someone, and the end result was that person's death. How can someone be this cruel? It's because their love and compassion for others have grown cold. If you listen to many of the secular artists songs, their definition of love is sexual satisfaction and what you can do for or to me. However, this is not the type of love that God desires us to have with our fellow brothers and sisters.

                God never intended for us to be selfish creatures. God wants us to love each other in a Godly way, and care for our brothers and sisters. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own daily lives that we don't take the time to show concern for others. It becomes all about ME. What "I" need or what "I" want. Do we even take the time to pray for others? Do we go check on the elderly neighbor, who we know doesn't have anyone to talk to? Do we go to the nursing homes and prisons to see about the people there? Do we visit the sick and shut-in to offer them a word of prayer? How about giving someone a lift to the store or doctor if they don't have transportation?  Matthew 25:35 says, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (NIV) Jesus went on to say that when we did it to the least of them, we have done it unto Him. 

                Jesus was letting us know that it's not all about us. We are to be a light unto the world. Many may think that being a light only consist of inviting a person to church, however, it is more to it than that. In order to win souls for Christ, they must see the "love" that is within us. That means, they should know that we are a caring people who not only talk about God, but actually line it up with actions. 

            So how can we go about making sure that we line up with the word of God? It’s simple! We just need to show more LOVE. What is love? Love is all the things that God is and we aren't within the natural. Love is what we do when we’re striving to become more like Him. Love is going the extra mile even when it’s at an inconvenience to us. Love is saying, “I’m there for you,” even when you’re not getting anything out of it.

            The Bible sums up the definition of love best. 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be still; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

            Love should be the ONE thing that remains constant in our lives. Let us make sure that we are not “self-pleasuring” ourselves with the things of the world, whereas we have no time to show love to others. Love is our first duty before all else. I pray that God be with you and keep you. Most of all, I pray that He gives us a STRONG desire to have love for one another. Take care and God bless!