Nature of self interest in mankind
- Thread starter CMA Cole
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Verbal Vibes
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Hmmmm....
When God created Adam, He gave him everything—life, purpose, beauty, and authority. But in the midst of all that, Adam chose his own desire over God’s command (Genesis 3:6). That was the beginning of man’s struggle with self-interest. From that moment, the heart of man became naturally inclined to think of self first.
This weakness didn’t end with Adam—it flows through all of us, since we are all seeds of Adam. Even the Apostle Paul, admitted this inner conflict. He said, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19, NIV). That is the reality of the human heart: we desire to be better, to be selfless, but we keep falling back into selfish patterns.
So, can selflessness ever be cultivated by mankind? Well, yes—but not by human strength alone. The first Adam failed, but the second Adam—Jesus Christ—showed us a new way. Jesus lived a life of complete selflessness, even laying down His life for others (John 15:13).
To become truly selfless, man needs a change of heart. Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” Only when God changes the heart can we break free from the grip of selfishness.
Selflessness is not a personality trait—it is the fruit of a transformed heart. It grows when we walk with God daily, die to self, and live for others. It’s a lifelong journey, but with God’s help, it’s possible.
