Mountaintop Musings:

I have been guilty of placing myself at the center of the universe. My needs are most important, I have the solution, and everyone else must accept that. I would bet that everyone reading this has been guilty of that.

It is our nature to place our comfort and well-being above others. Do I mean that this is always the case, no! But it is the pattern of mankind. So, what is the answer? It is really quite simple, and at the same time very complex. In Isaiah 55: 8-9 the prophet tells us God’s thoughts and ways are not ours. He has the perfect understanding and plan for our lives, we just think we do!

To gain a right perspective on ourselves we must have a right perspective on who God is. That comes from reading the Bible and seeking God’s way (Proverbs 3: 5-6). We think we have to meet all our needs, but the Bible says God will meet our needs if we place Him first (Matthew 6:33).

We are told to stand up for ourselves and protect our rights, and to live under authority is just a social construct to control us. The Bible says we are slaves to sin and its resultant chaos (Romans 6:16). Part of that is wanting to be King or Queen of the universe. We become so self-focused that we lose perspective. We don’t see it, but those around us certainly do. Jesus said in Luke 9: 23-24 that our focus should be on Him and if so, we will be saved (full, satisfying, eternal life).

Another area in which we think wrong is that we tell ourselves these problems are unique to me, no one else is having this struggle. Well, that is a lie that leads us to despair. God promises to help us through trials, and in fact that is where we grow into the people He wants us to be. The trials of life are like a refiner’s fire that burns out the dross and leaves the pure gold behind, if we apply God’s principles during the process (James 1: 2-4).

Our natural tendency is to justify our actions when we hurt or offend someone and give excuses. So, let me ask, how does that work for you? Not good I suppose. Relationships can only be truly healed when we go to the one we have offended and ask forgiveness. Matthew 5: 23-24, Romans 12:18 and James 5:16 are a few verses that touch on this subject.

I ask you to think of a situation that you are in where your feeling have been hurt. Your “rights” have been abused. You want the other person to suffer as you are. That is the natural way, the way of self. God’s way is to examine yourself and your role in the situation (Mathew 7:5); to not judge by your standard but seek to be a blessing to that person (Romans 14: 1-13; John 7:24). Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for them, go beyond what they expect (Matthew 5: 38-48 and Luke 6:35).

In closing the best advice I can give for living in this world of conflict and trials comes from the book of Philippians, chapter 2 verses 3-8: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jesus is the King of Kings, and yet he died on the cross to pay our sin debt, to reconcile us to God. He alone is the One who can lead us to victory in the battle of self. I would urge you to call on Him for salvation today if you have not. That step will enable you to find the peace with God and others that you desire.

Thanks for reading this column and feel free to call me any time.

(Dave & Lisa Carroll are area missionaries with InFaith, America’s oldest Christian home mission agency. Source material for this article is from the Biblical Counseling Foundation. You can contact Dave at 406.459.8935 or [email protected])