How does selfishness

reflect
our sinful nature?
(Proverbs 28:1-13)

1
 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2
 By the transgression of a land many are its princes,
But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it
endures.
3
 A poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
4
 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law strive with them.
5
 Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the LORD understand all things.
6
 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son,

But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury

Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,

Even his prayer is an abomination.

10 He who leads the upright astray in an evil way

Will himself fall into his own pit,

But the blameless will inherit good.

11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes,

But the poor who has understanding sees through him.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

When there is moral rot within a nation, its

government topples easily. But with wise

and knowledgeable leaders, there is

stability.

(Proverbs 28:2)
1. Selfishness separates us from

God and from others.

 "You have said terrible things about me," says the Lord.

"But you say, 'What do you mean? How have we spoken

against you?' "You have said, 'What's the use of serving

God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by

trying to show the Lord Almighty that we are sorry for our

sins? From now on we will say, "Blessed are the arrogant."

For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to

punish them go free of harm.' " (Malachi 3:13-15)

2. Selfishness is a rejection of God

and all he represents.

 Mark 8:31-38
And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many
things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the
scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was
stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to
rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He
rebuked Peter and said*, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not

setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

34
 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them,
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself,

and take up his cross and follow Me.

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever

loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. "For

what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit

his soul? "For what will a man give in exchange for his

soul? "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in

this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man

will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory

3. Selfishness is ultimately self-

destructive.
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the

source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and

do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot

obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do

not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong

motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You

adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is

hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the

world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the

 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS

OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE

HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will

flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you

double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your

laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will

4. Selfishness is at the heart of

most problems between people.