The Most Contemptible Person (Our Self)

I know the worst character there can possibly be. In fact, you may know him too. It is not until one really begins to think about him that he becomes so disgusting. As I have studied this person I have found him awfully proud, selfish, jealous, greedy, and complaining. Just to name a few things. I cannot help but wonder what has happened to him.

Here are a couple of examples of what I mean.

In the grocery store he stood in line waiting to be checked out with a cart full of groceries. He refused to let an elderly lady by to check out her two items.
Later, after I left the store and was driving down the highway, suddenly there he was again. He was outraged because someone had failed to get in the turning lane to turn left. They were half way in two lanes blocking the traffic. When he finally got around that situation, he floored his car's gas pedal and went darting in and out of traffic like he was on a race track.
Soon I noticed him again. He looked like he was boiling because someone at the stop light was just sitting, talking on a cell phone after the light turned green. When he finally began going down the highway, he came up behind a car going 50 in a 55 mile an hour zone. He could not pass because of a steady stream of incoming traffic. So he had to slow down a little and follow for several miles. After a while, he just pulled out to pass in a no passing zone.

Now, this fellow obviously had no patience! He wass only thinking of himself! He's the kind of person that could cause someone to get killed! The more I get to know about him, the more I am turned off. He seems to think he's no different from anyone else. Wouldn't that be bad?

If you talk to him, he will just say, that's the way I am. When he is nice, it's partly deceptive because he doesn't want others to know how bad he really is. When he takes the smallest piece of pie, he does it so people will think he is polite and considerate. He's really good at putting on an act. He likes to put other people down. He sees and talks about all their faults and wishes they would all go south. To their face he eats them up, but just wait till he's out of their sight. Boy, he can't say a good thing about them. This guy is really flawed. I wonder does he know it? It seems that he just doesn't see himself.

Sometimes he even goes to church. Singing in the choir or teaching a class is no problem with him. He likes to be praised for all he does, but he can get ugly if someone criticizes him. This guy is a hypocrite, a fake, and a down right sinful person. This fellow needs to be changed!

Would you like to know where this despicable guy lives? He may live within all of us and his name is "self!" When we look at "myself," we cannot blame other selves, for our self. The truth is, yourself is the biggest problem you have got to face every day! Is there any wonder we need the Savior?

This fellow, "self," thinks he is so important. He can be so obnoxious, mean, and cold. When he says in the morning, "Good morning how are you," it may not be just because he cares, but to cause you to think he is a concerned person.

Does "yourself" really please the Lord? Myself, I have a time with, to be honest. If all the "myself's" in the world spent more time disciplining themselves, then we wouldn't have time to be judgmental of another self.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Matthew 22:37-39

The Apostle Paul tells us how he overcame self,

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

May the good Lord help us all. Amen, Preacher