A Good Indicator

"If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." James 3:13-16

Disorder-to disturb the regular or normal functions of.

When we allow selfishness to take root within us and we constantly feed it, we produce words and actions that are worldly, and we ensure they always point to us.

Because we have allowed our hearts to be saturated with self, when the attention is taken off of us, or we  feel as though we aren't in control, disorder begins.

I like to refer to self as our Miss Me. Miss Me can't go two seconds without being fed. She thrives on any and everything that feeds her. Such as; attention whether earned from good or bad behavior. Lies that make her look better or help her be praised. And anything that is materialistic. Her speech contains the word  "I" and the focus in every conversation revolves around her or her family. Her concern for others is rare. 

When her regular routine is thrown off, beware. She will either shut you off or let you know about it.

We all have a Miss Me, but we all also have a choice. We can either choose to give her complete rein of our lives, or we can allow the Holy Spirit to put her in her place. 

If you wonder how much control she really has, ask the Lord to show you. and when He does, listen! 

And if you are willing and really do desire to know the truth, that if listened to, will  set you free, seek out those who know you well and will answer you honestly. 

But be prepared for their answer, because when truth is spoken to Miss Me and she is called out for her actions and speech, she can get really defensive. 

So be sure when you ask the Lord and those you love to tell you, that you are really ready to receive it. 

And if you do ask, and you get mad at them for telling you, or you let it hurt your feelings, then let that be a good indicator of how big your Miss Me really is. 

Let James 3:13-16 be one of the tools you use to put Miss Me in her place. Remind her constantly who God is.