6 Character Traits of Christians Who Overcome Selfishness

Ever since Satan convinced Eve to place her desires above God's commands in the garden, he's been promoting pride and arrogance in the human race. 

When I scroll through “Christian posts” on social media, I'm regularly disappointed by messages emphasizing our significance and our desires instead of God's significance and desires.

Narcissism is becoming more prevalent as people: 

2 Timothy 3:1-5, 1 John 2:15-17 

1. Boast about themselves.
2. Refuse to confess mistakes, let alone their sins.
3. Have no respect for age or experience.
4. Value beauty, money, and power more than character.
5. Blame-shift. 
6. Compromise moral values.

Narcissism used to be a rare psychological problem, but this new form of narcissism is affecting many and giving them a destructive type of self-confidence.

In contrast, God is looking for people who:

1. “Boast” about knowing Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
2. Accept correction (Proverbs 15:32).
3. Value experience and wisdom of older Christians (Proverbs 23:22; Proverbs 30:11; 1 Timothy 5:1-2)
4. Value character and seek to develop it (Galatians 5:16-17).
5. Take personal responsibility, repenting of sin (1 John 1:9-10).
6. Refuse to conform to our culture (Romans 12:2).

These actions give us a healthy God-confidence.

We can't avoid the neo-narcissists voices in our culture, but we can reject them and seek a closer walk with the Lord.  💙 

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For more on this subject check out the 1-minute devotion The Pharisees had High Self-Esteem. 

 

And check out the reasonably priced book Lies in Disguise. It offers wisdom about many of the half-truths that have infiltrated Christian teaching, such as the one briefly discussed in this devotion.