Self-promotion is so much a part of our culture that it’s virtually invisible. Social media has exacerbated this age-old problem and raised ‘self’ to new heights. From film stars to  ordinary people – from sporting heroes to teenagers – from politicians to pensioners – social media is awash with self-promotion.

‘Self’ is an addiction

Needing to be noticed, approval addiction, fear of what other people think, attention-seeking. These things are so widespread and so much a part of our culture that they have become ‘the norm’ – hardly even noticed by the majority.

Yet they can subtly, insidiously undermine our relationships – with family, with friends – and with God Himself. ‘Self’ is an addiction. The more it is ‘fed’ , the more it demands –  and the more it blinds us to the damaging effects of the very words and actions that ‘self’ fuels.

Humility is rather out of fashion these days. Few hide their good deeds – instead they post about them on social media.

Over-simplistic

Jesus said:  “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23). The lady on the market stall, who refused to take my leaflets all those years ago, clearly understood the dangers of an over-simplistic Gospel message that doesn’t fully explain what it means to die to self!

The consequence of such a dangerous Gospel message is explained by Oswald Chambers : “There are a lot of Christian cripples about! They cannot get on their own feet, nor can other people put them there. You try to pick them up! They may take a step or two, and then down they go again. There are many like that, and you can spend your life trying to get them up on their feet.

What is it that is eating the very life out of them?  It is self-centredness. Make no mistake about it, it is self in some form. It is self that wants to be taken notice of. It is self in the form of pride.”

Oswald Chambers 1847-1917

Oswald Chambers continues: “This sin of pride is a master-thief, as it robs God of that honour which would be given Him by His people if they are humble, and of that joy which He takes in their humility. Pride also robs believers of their present joy and comfort.

Nothing like the sin of pride unfits us for divine service,” Chambers insists. “It renders us incapable, so far as it prevails, of any acceptable service either to God or man.”

Chambers urges his readers to “turn from our miserable selves and cease to be occupied with them, saying once and for all: “I am done with you, wretched self. I throw myself on to Jesus Christ.  Jesus never lets such a person down.”

Chambers points out that “If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He doesn’t ask you to make it right; He only asks you to accept the light of truth, and then He will make it right. ”

We cannot set ourselves free

We cannot set ourselves free from ‘self’ – it’s far too ingrained in us. God doesn’t expect us to do it – and we shouldn’t expect ourselves to be able to do it.

How can we resist the temptation to talk over-much about ourselves and our situations – when it is self that blinds us to our self-focus?

How can we resist the temptation to attention-seeking, and approval addiction – however subtly we might indulge in it? We’ve done it before we even realise we’re doing it!

Why shouldn’t we do what we want to do – in the seemingly ‘innocent’ things of life? Selfishness and self-indulgence can be so subtle that we don’t even realise we’re being selfish.

Why should we not retaliate when we feel that we are being treated badly? How can we not feel frustrated when we know we are right but can’t get through to the one who opposes us?

 Humility is not thinking less of yourself,
but thinking of yourself less!

Our unrecognised self-focus and self-indulgence prevents us from experiencing the transformed life – the joy of which  we can barely imagine. It robs us of the tangible presence, peace and power of God. It keeps us deceived about ourselves, our perceptions, our attitudes and our motivations. It creates a circle of self-deception – so that we cannot see ourselves as others see us. It can damage relationships.

Freedom from self is true humility – which is the gateway to a transformed life! A life raised up above the experience of the nominal Christian. A mind renewed! Perceptions and emotions transformed!

A transformed life is what we are meant to experience – if only we could be free from the prison of  ‘self’.

But if we can’t free ourselves from the prison of ‘self’ – how can we ever be free to live the transformed life? How can we enter into that perfect peace and calm – even as dark clouds are gathering, and “all around and above is trouble’?

“I throw myself on to Jesus Christ” Herein lies the key to the transformed life.

A short talk on ‘The Tyranny Of Self’:-

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The transformed life