No, Not One
Throughout my life I have come to learn that most everyone, at least at times, has narcissistic tendencies, and some are absolute narcissists indeed. I will attempt to explain how scripture teaches against this mentality and how we can avoid it.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. In many ways, we have a deep desire to be right in our mind, disregarding the teaching of scripture, even to the point of destroying everything.
We even avoid biblical verse to feel better about ourselves, or to appear wise in the eyes of others and ourselves. One of mankind’s greatest follies is that we think far more of ourselves than we ought far too often.
This is why God will humble us from time to time with calamity, temptation, or tribulation if we are His. Life has taught me that a man that follows his own path is nothing more than a fool seeking calamity. We do have a way out, a better direction, and we find it in the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6, 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. When, and if, I will follow God, then the path forward is a just and righteous way. As I titled this writing, the Word of God vividly explains in Romans 3, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Does this not confirm the lesson in this writing? As creatures in our fleshly vessels we will often seek things that are not beneficial for us, and we seek them in wrong places, simply because that is where we want them to come from. Let me explain in a short parable of the Aunt and Uncle.
There was once a young man, and his father’s sister, a wealthy woman, was kind and loving, always cooking and giving, even encouraging and complimenting often no matter the situation. His mother’s brother, a wealthy man, was very straightforward and matter of fact, correcting, pointing out wrongs, and speaking of consequences even seeming harsh at times.
As time went on, the aunt and uncle fell ill and passed away. The aunt passed first and the young man felt great loss in her passing. Then the uncle passed and the young man received his wealth through inheritance. The young man felt at odds with this.
Somehow in his mind he desired the wealth had come from the aunt. He had been given a great gift, but because it did not come from his desired source it felt somehow tainted. What he could not see was that the gift from the uncle began far further back than his passing, for he imparted the gift of wisdom and his desire for the young man to prosper, whereas the aunt only sought to flatter and impart good feelings.
Many times we will receive a gift that we need and that is beneficial to us only to turn around and shun it because it did not come from the place we wanted it to come from. Many do this exact thing with God’s Word. We have been given the greatest gift: the gift of our Savior.
The gift of the knowledge and wisdom of the Word of God, but we then turn from it for no other reason than it did not come from ourselves (reference Proverbs 3:5-6 above).
Clearly, the wisdom of Scripture addresses the issue of us as followers of the Lord seeking from within instead of seeking God’s will through His Word.
We must never forget that God searches our heart. He knows our intent and the source of our desire, whether it’s in selfishness or in compassion and thanksgiving. When we are given a gift, we should be thankful and not judgmental. God knows the hearts of the giver and those that receive.
So be thankful for that which you have received, and be thankful also for those things asked for that you did not receive. Jeremiah 29:11-12 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Through life I have learned that all things have been sifted through the hands of God for His people. Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart, seeking to be Holy as He is Holy!
Kenneth Kellar
A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple