Understanding Restlessness and Selfishness in the Christian Life
This lesson delves into the roots of restlessness, such as pride, selfishness, unhealthy ambition, and hypocrisy, that can tarnish the Christian witness. Jesus's teachings highlight the contrast between the world's principles of self-focus and Christ's kingdom principle of giving and self-sacrifice. Outer and inner restlessness, selfishness, ambition, and hypocrisy are explored, along with biblical antidotes like humility, service to others, and putting the needs of others first.
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Two comments from the teachers lesson book In this week s lesson, The Roots of Restlessness, we will study attitudes that are often hidden from sight and raise their ugly heads from time to time. Attitudes such as pride, selfishness, unhealthy ambition, and hypocrisy too often characterize the lives of Christians and tarnish our witness. The principle of this world is grasping. The principle of Christ s kingdom is giving. The principle of this world is self-promotion. The principle of Christ s kingdom is self- sacrifice. The principle of this world is a focus on self. The principle of Christ s kingdom is a focus on others. Jesus knew what was going on in the disciples minds, and He spoke to the very heart of the Christian life.
Restlessness means we feel anxious and without peace. Rest less ness! Restlessness is often rooted in our sinful nature. Other times, our decision to be faithful motivates other people to make it hard for us. Can we find peace when restlessness surrounds us? Outer restlessness Inner restlessness Selfishness Ambition Hypocrisy Getting rid of restlessness
OUTER RESTLESSNESS Jesus preached and practiced love, peace, and harmony, so that statement may sound weird. He taught us to love even our enemies, so we should also love our family and friends! However, Jesus meant that we are not worthy if we love them more than we love Him. Jesus is worthy because He gave everything for us (Revelation 5:9). We are worthy if we choose to follow Him above everything. There may be conflict between our close ones and us if they do not make the same decision and try to separate us from Jesus. Then, a man s enemies are the men of his own household.
SELFISHNESS Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. (Luke 12:15) I, me, mine. We learn those words too quickly and use them too often. Jesus refused to mediate the distribution of an inheritance. He instead delved into the root of restlessness in that case: Selfishness (Luke 12:13-15). He introduced a hypothetical case of a man who only had eyes for himself. That man forgot about God and his neighbours, and lost everything (Luke 12:16-21). Which is the biblical antidote for selfishness? To be humble like Christ, to serve others, and to put them before ourselves (Philippians 2:5-8; Romans 12:10).
SELFISHNESS But selfishness is really the root of all sin. How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14)
Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. (Luke 22:24) Jesus had just told His disciples that He would be betrayed and killed, shedding His blood to forgive our sins. For He taught His disciples and said to them, The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day. But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him. (Mark 9:31-32)
However, they could not understand it because they were blinded by ambition. They aspired to have a prominent position in the earthly kingdom of the Messiah. Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road? But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. (Mark 9:33-34)
Jesus placed a child at the centre of the group. Then He taught them that they should not covet great things in this life. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me. (Mark 9:35-37). We must trust God and depend on Him like a child, and let Him take control of our lives. Jesus has great plans for us. He will help us to abandon our wrong ambitions and to be led by Him.
Memory Text For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice James 3:16, ESV
HYPOCRISY Jesus used the expression hypocrites 14 times in the book of Matthew. He said nothing nice in any of them. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. (23:13) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows houses, and for a pretence make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. (23:14) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. (23:15)
HYPOCRISY Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. (23:23) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. (23:25)
HYPOCRISY Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men s bones and all uncleanness. (23:27) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, , . . . Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. (23:29,31)
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (Matthew 23:13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29) HYPOCRISY Why was Jesus against the hypocrites? In the classical Greek culture, a hypocrite was an actor who played a role. Nowadays, a hypocrite is someone who does not appear the way they really are, or does not act in line with their words. Hypocrisy is extremely dangerous: to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) Therefore, Jesus encourages us and gives us the strength we need to live in tune with our faith. This way we will help others to trust Jesus and accept Him.
The religion of Christ is sincerity itself. Zeal for God s glory is the motive implanted by the Holy Spirit; and only the effectual working of the Spirit can implant this motive. Only the power of God can banish self-seeking and hypocrisy. E. G. W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 44, p. 409)
GETTING RID OF RESTLESSNESS Don t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. (John 14:1 NLT) We have learned that restlessness may be caused by our sinful nature. Also, our faithfulness may lead us to distressing situations. How to find peace in moments of distress? Trust is key. Jesus promised to give us full life (John 10:10). Let us trust Jesus whenever we are wounded, tired, exhausted, sick, or disheartened. He is the Life (John 14:6).
GETTING RID OF RESTLESSNESS On the other hand, Jesus is preparing a place for us. Once we get there, pain, anxiety, and suffering will no longer be a problem (John 14:2-3; Revelation 21:4). The difficulties of this life fade away when we think of that beautiful promise. We can have hope amidst restlessness.
Before you are two waysthe broad road of self- indulgence and the narrow path of self-sacrifice. Into the broad road you can take selfishness, pride, love of the world; but those who walk in the narrow way must lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset. Which road have you chosen the road which leads to everlasting death, or the road which leads to glory and immortality? E. G. W. (Our High Calling, January 2)
The End These slides have been adapted from those prepared by Sergio Fustero and Eunice Laveda, members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Spain. The originals can be found at https://www.fustero.es/index_en.php A copy of my expanded version can be found at www.thornleighadventist.org.au/ss_adult.htm
