Not Ego-Centric, but Christ Centered

What usually happens? The show doesn't come off very well. He begins to think life doesn't treat him right. He decides to exert himself more. He becomes, on the next occasion, still more demanding or gracious, as the case may be. Still the play does not suit him. Admitting he may be somewhat at fault, he is sure that other people are more to blame.

 

Our actor is self-centered - ego-centric, as people like to call it nowadays. 

 

Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt.(AA pg 61, 62)

 

This diagnosis has some merit, yet not complete.

 

To damn people for being "self-centered" is hollow invective at best, and dangerous intrusion at its worst.

 

Is it "self-centered" for me to eat? I have to eat to live, do I not? Is it self-centered for me to care about my daily needs, to make sure that I watch over my facts and figures and take care of business? Of course not? Self-centeredness in itself means very little.

 

Man has a bigger problem than "having problems" or "sinning."

 

He is dead in his trespasses because of Adam:

 

"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." (Romans 5: 15)

 

This death, these trespasses, are all taken care of at the Cross through the Death of Jesus Christ.

 

"1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us," (Ephesians 2: 1-4)

 

God has not just saved us from death, but Christ has given us new life, seating us in Christ at His Father's right hand:

 

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  "" (Ephesians 2: 5-6)

 

So, we are truly delivered from ourselves and granted a new "self", a new loife, but not one centered on ourselves. Our new life is in Christ:

"17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)