On a scale of one to ten, how often do you think about the needs of others and try to meet them? Before you answer, consider this scripture:

But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate andloose in morals andconduct, uncontrolled andf ierce, haters of good. [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 AMPC

Frightening, isn’t it?

“Selfishness is defined as ‘the state of being overly concerned with one’s self’. Now God is challenging the “what’s in it for me” attitude of our age in which self-gratification, self-improvement, self-enlightenment, and self-indulgence is increasingly being promoted. Selfishness dies hard but it’s a stronghold you must break in order to experience the peace and joy that give life meaning. B.C Forbes, founder of Forbes magazine, said: ‘I’ve never known any human being, high or humble, who regretted when nearing life’s end, having done kindly deeds. But I have known more than one who became haunted by the realisation that they had led selfish lives“— Adapted from Word for Today by Bob Gass

This is worth reflecting over and checking that you are not in this mode. Shalom.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele