FEATURE ARTICLES
Changing Times
Turning The World’s Greatest Vice Into The World’s Greatest Virtue (A Lesson from the Cross) tal and labor is basically selfish. One battles to retain wealth while the other strives for a greater distribution of it. Social position is another battleground between the blue bloods listed in the social register and those who want to be listed. So those on top because of heredity, wealth, or position fight to stay there and those who would be there struggle up the social ladder. Basically, both groups are selfish. Let us shift now from collective situations to the more personal, individual vices. What is gambling? It is a selfish desire to get something for nothing. What is drunkenness? It is a selfish habit to satisfy a normal thirst illegitimately. What is prostitution? It is a selfish practice to get money by turning a priceless virtue into a horrible vice. What is lying? It is a selfish (Matthew 10:39) If you were device to protect oneself after asked what is the world's greatest wrong conduct or to help one's self vice? What would be your answer? Well, here it is: "The world's to improper ends. What is stealing? It is a selfish greatest vice is selfishness." It is because at the bottom of all method of procuring things which our troubles, whether they are per- belong to others. What is murder? It is a selfish sonal, social, national, or universal crime to eliminate some individual at the core you will find that the who is preventing one's personal root is selfishness. Call to Advertise 504-439-5821 • 985-869-2712 • www.keepitlocalmagazine.com War is the most world-wide and desires. What is suicide? It is PRESORT a selfish STD universal vice humans faces. What U.S. Postage PAID attempt to avoid the responsibilities is its cause? It is National selfishPermit No. 1404 Dallas, TX ness. It becomes a struggle between of life. What is Sabbath violation? It is a the haves and the have-nots. The latter enviously desires what the haves possess while the have-nots selfishly fight to retain it. Class war within nations is the conflict between the upper crust who are wealthy and the lower stratum who are poverty-stricken. One selfishly fights to hold, the other to get. The struggle between capiAll copy, layout and design in this magazine are the property of Keep It Local and may not be reproduced without permission
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selfish practice to make Sunday a day of physical pleasure instead of a day of divine worship. What is idolatry? It is a selfish worshipping of things that give personal gratification instead of worshipping God. Covetousness, envy, jealousy, anger, hatred, animosity, and revenge all find their base and cause in selfishness. For a moment, let’s look at the Ten Commandments. Idol worship, lying, stealing, murder, adultery, covetousness, false witnessing, dishonoring of parents, the cause of the violation of any of the commandments or all is selfishness. Yes, I think it is conclusive and noncontroversial that selfishness is the world-wide vice. So, what is selfishness? The answer is sin. Sin is putting self against God. Sin is acting contrary to God's will to further one's selfish interests. Sin is taking advantage of others to satisfy personal, selfish desires. Sin is satisfy-
ing normal appetites in an abnormal way to satisfy selfish wants. Sin began in heaven when Lucifer selfishly desired to make himself God. Sin began on earth when Adam selfishly satisfied a desire contrary to God's known law. And so, it has been ever since. Selfishness is a sinful expression of a desire, appetite, or instinct in an illegitimate, illegal way. Happiness never comes from selfishness. In fact, it is a result of just the opposite. Service to God and others results in happiness to self. Jesus enunciated this great principle of successful living: "He that finds his life shall lose it, but he that loses his life for My sake shall find it" (Matt. 10:39). Surrender yourself to something bigger and beyond yourself and you will find yourself. Surrender yourself to Christ and He will give Himself to you. See VIRTUE on Page 39
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