LOVE THE AMAZING JEWEL PART 7

LOVE IS NO SELF SEEKING

1 Corinthians 13:5

 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

If a man will understand how intimately, yea, how inseparably, self-control and happiness are associated, he has but to look into his own heart, and upon the world around,...Looking upon the lives of men and women, he will perceive how the hasty word, the bitter retort, the act of deception, the blind prejudice and foolish resentment bring wretchedness and even ruin in their train.

Allow me to ask you,Why did you wake up today in the morning to go to the office or the market place? Why are you sharply dressed today? At the back of your mind could there be the spirit to impress, be seen or even belittle somebody? Many at times even the things done in places of worship are not related to worship in the first place. Sometimes it is personal display and competition on who to beat with the latest fashion.

By the way I have no ill feelings thoughts, neither do I detest modest dressing. As a servant of God  I believe this is one of the ways that I communicate  orderliness, attention to detail and agree with the old adage that says "cleanliness is next to godliness". Cleanliness does not mean outshining one another or competing to give testimony of which the latest mall I recently visited and what is the worth of the suite I a donning. Mine is not to shine, But lay Jesus bare, that room be found in me through which hearts of men can be drawn to him for salvation. This force and drive I have learnt over time that  it is driven by the LOVE who has found abode in the confines of my heart.

I am comfortable in whichever environment so long as one thing is happening. The attention of Jesus is being sought and not mine.

Who is a self seeker?
Why does the good book discount him?
Could he be a rubble rouser? Remember love is able to go that extra mile. Are you ready to are you looking at the distance and then wearing off?  May be you are looking at the distance, visa vi the kind of shoes you are putting on, the kind of dress you have on and then you start thinking of the kind of reception you are likely to receive before giving the node to go ahead and serve. No wonder there is this colloquial saying  "that God called me to minister in the city center and not the country side". It is not about t the force of love and burden of the so called city center but the proximity and ease of personal attention, coupled with gullible trappings of the desperate populace looking for microwave answers. In today's world you can only weigh the anointing on the men of the clothe against the quality of the word that comes out of their mouths. This is what Jesus said "Out of the abundances of the of the heart mouth speaks". Luke 6:45. Freely have we been given, freely are we supposed to give also.

Do not peddle the gospel for selfish gain, but show Love at its best. May the burden Christ has laid on your heart be shared humbly with authority and heavenly anointing. There should be no choreography and behind the scene interplay to win people to yourself. It is not you healing, You are but a channel. After all you are a man of God saved by the grace he has provided for his own glory. Why don't you just present yourself as a living sacrifice, a worthy instrument to be used in the masters hands without people clapping for you?Why are we seeking attention for nothing forgetting he who called us never required anything from us? How come we have quite a number of mega churches in our city yet our land is the home to corruption, center for hunger coupled with ill democracy?

Beloved, be a son who hears the voice of the master.It is not the numbers and because of you that the anointing is flowing through you yet you are in church for just some 4 hours. What about the other 164, where are you?

A self seeker is a contentious person. Romans 7:8 "But for those who are self seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger". Love is not self seeking. The bible says, "Seek me and live". The opposite is well said above. You will know you are a self seeker, if you are so full about yourself, are not ready to listen to any contrary view and are only ready with itching ears to hear praises of yourself. Attention seekers feel angry when no one blows their trumpet and feel intimidated when others score better than them. They feel angry and are full of rage when others outshine them even in very simple things. They feel threatened when an opinion is sort from some one else and not them.

The best that can be done to a self seeker is to learn how to learn how to humble. Allow me to ask you. Who is it that has hired you? Were you called or you called yourself due to the lucrative deals in church so you say? It is time you learnt that there is no where your self seeking is going to lead you to. You will just end up with a broken heart and low confidence levels.

Paul share with us  a candid example of a self seeker in Acts16:16-19. The repercussions can be greened at in Vs. 16 "When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place to face the authorities". You have long played hide and seek with the word of God, conned so many desperate and troubled people telling them it is only you that God uses. In the name of prayers you have used gimmicks and all tricks to do your thing, but let me announce to you that soon your self seeking will come to an end. Better listen to this voice that is speaking to you through this hand work . It could be what will help you walk on the straight and narrow. The choice as often said has consequences and now the choice is yours. Proverbs 25:27 "Nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor". James 4:10 "Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up"

Self seekers cannot walk in love. This is like water and oil put together, for they esteem themselves, full of pride. My Lord is Love, and not  con man or an attention seeker. Love is real, consistent and not self conceited. Stop seeking artificial significance. Psalm 34:10b "But those who seek the lord lack no good thing"