The Problem with Self-Seeking

In the ‘Love Chapter’ – 1 Corinthians 13, it says that ‘love does not seek its own‘. I realised the other day that many of our problems come from doing this very thing – seeking our own, desiring things for ourselves, being self-centred.

• We can so easily become discontent with our situation, wishing things were different. This can then make our whole world tinged with negativity, and it comes from wanting things for ourselves. 
• We can be anxious and worried about what people think about us, and again it is seeking our own – seeking a good reputation, or wanting people to think well of us.
• We can get into arguments with people, which is often because we want our own way, or we are trying to defend ourselves – notice the ‘self’ in defending yourself!

I am guilty of all of these, weekly if not daily! So I know they are common problems, or else I am unusually sinful and pre-occupied with myself! But I have not understood till now how many of these things come from self-seeking.

If we could only step outside of our focus on ourselves and turn our thinking around to focus on loving God and others instead then it would change and become so much more simple.

• Instead of being discontent we could be thankful for what God has given us, and seek to bless others with what we do have. 
• Instead of being worried about what people think, we could be more concerned about pleasing God and loving others. 
• And instead of wanting our own way we could put others first, and let God be our defender.

I know this is hard to do, as it is so easy to get distracted and wrapped up in ourselves again. But if we were less pre-occupied with ourselves and more with loving God and others, we would actually have fewer problems and be more joyful and at peace!


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