“Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things …” (Phil. 3:8, NKJV)
Dealing with the spirit of perversion in the life of believers is such a wide and diverse theme that we’ve spent quite some time discussing it, and yet there is still much to say on the topic. In various sub-themes we closely examined how believers can be perverted and the nature of that which pollutes the functioning of their faith, for instance the inability to love oneself, self-hatred (as opposed to self-acceptance and self-love), inability to forgive (and the importance of forgiveness), despondency and depression.
In this teaching we start our discussion on one of the most deadly perversions within man, including believers. This has various names: selfishness, ambition, self-centredness, narcissism, self-interest and waywardness. Many theologians considers this as the original sin of both Satan and Adam – the pressing desire to elevate the self.
Paul consistently presents Jesus as the example of selflessness. In 2 Cor. 8:9 he says: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” Jesus’ ethos was very simple: “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:27-28). Based on that example Paul spells out the immense importance of selflessness and servanthood in no uncertain terms: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:3-8).
From these Scriptures it is clear that this attitude is not only one of the characteristics of the Father and the Son, but that it is also a clear manifestation of our godly nature (2 Pet. 1:4). In this Scripture Peter states that we can only acquire this once we have “escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”. This perverted desire for power and self-elevation directly opposes our godly nature.
What is the origin of this, and how does the believer deal with this ancient, pressing desire for self-elevation at all costs?
The first man had enormous authority, and was in a position of spiritual importance: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” From Ps. 8:5-6 we know: “For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet …” Adam had this Godly nature, but he also had the free will to choose otherwise. Indeed: “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (Gen. 4:7). Adam chose differently, to my and your immense loss.
- Selah: Do you have the attitude that was also in Christ (Phil. 2:5)?
- Read: 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chr. 24.
- Memorise: 2 Kings 13:21.
