Have you noticed that most people seem to spend a lot of time worrying about how to take care of themselves(Mat.6:25-29). Many times that is why it is difficult for people to help other people. For example: If I give some poor or needy person my food or money, that takes something away from myself. If I go help my neighbor by mowing his lawn or whatever, that is taking up my time and also the gas for the mower. This leaves less for ones self.
All too often, people try to do good things, but this is also most always done for self. People tend to think that doing good things will earn them Salvation with God, which they realize in their spirit they need. The problem is; these good deeds are really done for one’s self also, because they are hoping to gain from these good deeds. So, they are back at self once again.
Another way to look at this in order to get it into perspective is the following: When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, everything they did (or for that matter whatever anyone in the world did after that),from that moment on became selfish. The evil they then received understanding of, was totally based on selfishness. If we will just stop and think for one minute, we will see the truth in that statement. Stealing, cheating, lying, adultery, fornication, and any other sin you can think of is driven by selfishness. This is really fairly easy to understand, even by those who are unredeemed, if they are honest with themselves. The thing that is missed is: The knowledge of good also produced selfishness. How can this be, I can hear many asking? (Math.19:17- there is none good but one, that is, God---- Psalms 14:3- there is none who does good, no, not one------Rom.7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.) When we use the knowledge of good that we have in the flesh, it is done so that we may look good, feel good, receive something in return or for some other selfish reason. About the only exclusion to this is parental love which is as close as we can come to having a selfless love while still walking in the flesh. However, even parental love is improved monumentally when we place our faith in the Cross of Christ.
When we place our faith in Jesus Christ and what he accomplished on the Cross, this problem is rectified. How is it rectified? Simply because Jesus Christ Has delivered us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us; for it is written, cursed is he, whosoever hangeth on a tree. (Gal. 3:13—Deut.21:23)We are now set at liberty from the Law. Not just the Law of Moses, but any law. If Moses Law (law that was given to him by God) could not save us, how can we hope to devise some other law (or laws) that will? Because our righteousness is of Christ, we are at liberty (free) to not worry about rules, regulations, and laws that tell us what we should do and how we should live. We actually no longer have to worry abut our self, because Christ has taken care of our every need. It was all accomplished at the Cross.(Isaiah 53:5—But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.----Luke 12:24-32—James 1:17) Now, because we are not bound to that concern and worry over ourselves, we are free to serve Christ, and by Love to serve one another. Not serving in order to gain something; for we already have all things through Jesus Christ our Lord. Living for God now and walking after the Spirit, and loving your brother is simply our reasonable service. This we do out of Love and Appreciation for what Christ has accomplished for us. (Col. 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.)
ADDENDUM
Self always wants to do something to contribute to Salvation. If we live by that, we cannot take up the Cross daily, because taking up the Cross demands total allegiance and faith in the Finished work of Christ. Self promotes Faith in Self (via whatever works self has accomplished).
We cannot follow Jesus without taking up the Cross of Christ daily, because the simple act of properly following Christ requires the Holy Spirit to be active within us. He will not be active within us if we do not take up our Cross (the Cross of Christ) daily(because the Cross of Christ is the foundation on which the Holy Spirit stands while doing any kind of work in our lives). And we cannot take up the Cross daily unless we deny our selves daily.
This is the reason for the Lord saying, ”If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23.
