Hi friends,
This week the liturgical readings have had me reading Psalm 115.
And it reminded me of the hardest spiritual battle in the world…
The problem of selfishness.
If anyone could overcome selfishness, they would be a spiritual Gold Medal Olympian.
Imagine going through an entire day and using everything in your power to love God and your neighbor. All your time. All your money. All your energy. Everything you’ve got, leveraged to love and serve others, wholeheartedly, with a complete trust in God.
In my experience, we often settle for being nice, or praying for someone, or doing a small favor for someone.
But to eradicate selfishness? It seems like an impossible problem to overcome.
But I think Psalm 115 points at the solution.
I love how it starts:
Not to us, LORD, not to us,
but to your name give glory
because of your faithful love, because of your truth.
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he pleases.
Then, the Psalmist absolutely roasts the idols:
Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
They have mouths but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk.
They cannot make a sound with their throats.
Those who make them are just like them,
as are all who trust in them.
The Psalmist is revealing wisdom about reality. Idols? They’re trash. God? He’s in heaven, and he does whatever he pleases. He’s worthy of all glory.
If you see this truth, then so what?
The Psalmist is emphatic: trust in the Lord, because he is our help and shield. He is the one who remembers us and blesses us. He made everything - so he is worthy of all our praise (see verses 9-18).
Maybe you’re wondering what the connection is between Psalm 115 and selfishness.
You’re asking, How does this help me?
I get it. I have the same question.
But look at where the Psalmist starts:
Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory.
Worship is the antidote to selfishness.
Consider God. Be amazed by his greatness, his love, his goodness, his glory.
Worship God.
Wholeheartedly surrender your life to him - trust in him for everything.
It’s only when we worship God that we see the emptiness of our idols.
When we know the greatness of God and the foolishness of relying on anyone or anything else for our identity, purpose, or way of life, then we learn to trust God in every matter.
And that is what enables us - by the gracious work of his Spirit - to be less selfish. Because we are overwhelmed with joy to be in God’s presence, serving God’s purposes.