Selfishness
CV FAMILY –
This past Sunday, October 23, 2022, we preached a sermon called “Have You Lost Your Gourd?” (You can watch/listen by clicking –> HERE). One major topic that was discussed was SELFISHNESS. We saw from our scripture text that Jonah was very SELFISH.
Jonah was more concerned about his own personal comfort and well-being than the souls of the 120,000 people that God had sent him to witness to. I am wondering at times if we are not selfish when it comes to our own personal comfort and well-being, maybe not to the degree of Jonah, but to some degree or another. We get ourselves into our own routine and sometimes we can have the “change me if you can” mentality about ourselves. Don’t misunderstand me about change, because of all people I don’t like change just like the next person; however, I will go out of my way to witness to someone about Jesus.
I also believe that this SELFISHNESS can run deeper than what we have talked about thus far. Let’s talk about something that is probably gonna hit all of our hearts – church attendance. I know, I know this is a touchy subject to most people, but this is also something that is near and dear to my heart and not just because I want to see all our CV FAMILY’s faces, but because I firmly believe that church attendance is a very vital part of our Christian walk with God. How do I mean this? Well we look at a very famous passage … but let’s see how this verse looks in KJV, ESV, and AMP versions.
Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) ~ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 (ESV) ~ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25 (AMP) ~ Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
As we notice from all three versions of the Bible, we notice the NOT FORSAKING aspect, but the part I want to draw your attention to is what we are to do when we come together – we are to exhort, encourage, warn, urge and admonish each other. We can’t do that if we are not together. YES – I know that in the day of technology we can do some of this through text and email and social media, but we can ALL agree that we get tired of the notifications BEEPING on our phones all day, every day. If we are really honest with each other and ourselves, we probably ignore half of those notifications.
So what is the SELFISHNESS and NOT FORSAKING and the ENCOURAGING all have to do with each other? Let’s look from the other side of the coin shall we? Most of the people that come to church are entering the building for the first time and having the first thought about church on Sunday morning at 9:40am OR 10:50am – 11:00am for the Morning Worship time. What most people don’t realize is the amount of SELFLESSNESS in time and resources that have gone into getting the atmosphere ready for a church service AND a Sunday School Class time; all from the Praise & Worship Team, to the Sunday School teachers, to the Pastor, to the maintenance teams, to the janitor team and so much more. All of the prayers, study time, making sure the AC or heat is working, making sure the pews and floors are cleaned, the prep time for activities for kids classes and so, so much more goes into each and every Sunday service time. Those folks are not doing this just to have something to do, they are doing this to help each and every person that walks in the doors in areas of exhortation, encouragement, warnings, urging, and admonishment.
All being said, we need to make sure that when church service time rolls around that we are not being SELFISH and NOT FORSAKING in our actions and attitudes about church attendance. We all need each other for ENCOURAGEMENT and Spiritual Growth. Yes, the easiest thing to do is stay home and watch Sunday School and Morning Worship on LIVE FEED; but I believe that the easiest thing may not always be the right thing to do. Let’s start this weekend putting SELFISHNESS down and start ENCOURAGING one another. Let’s make Sunday School (9:45am), Morning Worship (11:00am) and Wednesday Bible Study (6:30m) a priority again in our lives.
FOR THE RECORD – this is me URGING.
Pastor Andy Lambert
Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101 | Email: pastorandy@cvcog.church