Self Breeds Self
As I become who I really am, God finally claims what is rightfully His. He is demanding me to “come forth.” Like Lazarus, it’s time to take off the grave clothes and to walk in newness of life. In the freedom of being myself I no longer seek meaning apart from who Christ is in me. Every answer is within me. A new pattern of fearless living and giving is emerging. I have let go of this false claim of having a right to my own self. This selfish objective to carve out a sense of self embodies the very nature of sin. This act of so-called freedom actually destroys freedom. Selfishness has an insatiable need for more. Self breeds self.
Live from selfish motives and what I thought was freedom turns to bondage. I thought I needed to find myself when all I ever needed was to give myself away.
I need to be myself so I can give myself away. I can’t give what I don’t have. To be less than myself is to continue to give with only self interest in view. My ulterior motives remain intact. This disqualifies me from meeting the true needs of others because I’d rather help them according to how I want to help them rather than how they would actually like to be helped. I’ll help in ways that make me feel good about myself.There is a paradox here. I cannot give what I do not have and yet I cannot have what I will not give. It is seemingly contradictory and yet it’s true: to find myself I had to give myself away. I never “found myself” in the selfish search of a self for the sake of self. I am made in the image of God and He is “The Self Who is for others.” Therefore I am found in the giving, not in the getting.
