The Sin of Self

"This is what sin is all about. Sin is all about promising us satisfaction, but it never keeps its promises. It can't, because we weren't made to satisfy ourselves. No, all sin does is blind us to the truth..We were made to find our satisfaction in a loving relationship with God, but sin convinces us to spend our lives in a self-loving relationship with ourselves. The tragedy is that in the end it doesn't even work. Sin leaves us bitter, empty, and filled with regret. Worst of all, it leaves us outside the love of God, the one thing that could have satisfied us. It leaves us exposed to his righteous anger that was provoked by our decision to love anything and everything except him, the one and only who was worthy of our love. Christian, I wonder what self-interested lies you are tempted to believe today? Is it the lie of lust, the lie that says satisfying your cravings-whether for sex, food, power, recognition, or whatever it is-will make you happy? Is it the lie of circumstances, that if only you were married, if only you were married to someone else, if only you had kids, if only you had different kids, if only you had a better job, a better house, a different career path, then you'd be fulfilled? Is it the satanic lie of doubt, that if you weren't a Christian, life would be better, or that if God really loved you, life would be better? Christian, stop measuring your life, stop ordering your life by this cramped and distorted ruler of self-interest. You were created to find your joy and meaning in something much bigger than yourself. Recognize your sin and confess it. Then set your eyes on Jesus, who alone will satisfy you."

Michael Lawrence, It is Well