Self-Gratification - The Christian Online Magazine

http://www.frontporchinspirations.com

Colossians 3: 1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. KJV

One of the hardest things for a Christian to learn to do is to die to self. Me and my, are some of the first words a child learns to speak. Remember the child who cried woefully, “It’s Mine!!” Siblings quarrel over a toy or who will sit by the door in the car on a trip.

The natural man wants…. No… demands to be front and center. We hear quotes daily such as, “It’s my way or the highway,” “ Gimmie, gimme, gimme, my name is Jimmy.” “ You can have your way as long as I say so.” Or, slogans such as, “Spoil yourself, you deserve it.”

Vanity and self-gratification are encouraged by the world every time we turn on a radio or television. We see it on billboards, store windows, even bumper stickers flaunt the, “ If it feels good, go for it, attitude.”

As long as man lives in this body called flesh, the world will have to deal with the desires of the heart and self-serving attitudes. Living the Christian life is a continual dying to self. As long as one lives life for self, there will never be satisfaction. There will always be hunger for more.

Last chance, hurry before time runs out, it may be gone forever if you wait…words Satan uses to lure man in to the trap. Once drawn in, by the “Don’t miss out on this one,” There is regret and discord that could have been avoided had we used Godly wisdom.

Galatians 5: 24, 25 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 6: 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

The above scriptures tell me that I must die to self, seek Wisdom from God to make the right decisions, and walk according to his word and will for my life. Jesus was tempted many times by Satan with material or natural things…. food, water, and wealth, to name a few. Jesus always replied to him with wisdom and the Word of God. “It is written.” We would do well to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

With a new year, come new opportunities and a fresh start. Let us run the race to win the prize of the high calling of God. Let’s do a spiritual audit, if you will, getting rid of the outdated over-rated things and desires in our lives and move on to the important spirit-filled life. Kick out self-gratification and replace it with spiritual wisdom setting our goals toward heavenly rewards.