4 ways selfishness hinders our spiritual growth

1)     It restricts our testimony to others.

-If our lives are a testimony for Jesus Christ, then they should be reflections of Christ. We testify by our actions and our words.

2 Corinthians 1:12  [12] For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. (ESV)

2)     Leads to disorder in our lives and other sins.

-This is the fruit of earthly wisdom which promotes self-worship.

James 3:16 [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (ESV)

3)     It hinders our prayers.

-We need to remember that the purpose of prayer is not to persuade God to do our bidding. The purpose of prayer is to align our will with His.

James 4:3  [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.   (ESV)

4)     It impacts our ability to love others.

-Love is a choice, if selfishness is ruling us, that choice will be directed at ourselves.

1 John 3:16–17 [16] By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. [17] But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?  (ESV)