NarcissUS- bow to JESUS.

(Note: This was written in 2009 for use in a Sunday School lesson but the lesson here is still the same. America is still a very narcissistic place- and so is the rest of the world. Too often we exalt humanity and look to ourselves for answers instead of acknowledging our need for God. Only He can ultimately solve all the problems that still plague us.)

https://web.archive.org/web/20090622043828/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30312181//

Wow! Read this article- it's really eye-opening. And it's so true! America has become incredibly narcissist! The very fact I'm posting this on a social networking site attests to that! (At least this isn't MYSpace- that even has it in the name) But this is evident in reality shows, in Youtube, in people stupidly buying houses and other things they really can't afford and then finding themselves in piles of debt and so many other examples. Everything is such a me-driven society. Man- people called the '70s the "Me Decade"- and some say the '80s carried it even further. No question- the 2000s onward has 'em both beat. This is also why I hate the status thing and I especially hate Twitter- because Twitter expounds on and exacerbates the main feature of Facebook that I hate- the whole status thing- it just seems like there's still this concept of having to share with everyone all that I'm doing every moment of the day because I need attention and hey, I deserve it. I'm not saying this is true for everyone, but it is a danger one can fall into. This is also why I pretty much never have any kind of real life update on my status unless it's really something pretty important that I want to share with everyone.

Just look at what God says about this. Pride is the original sin! In Proverbs 6:16-19, where The Lord tells us 7 things that are detestable to Him- haughty eyes are the very first one! "But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' " (James 4:6) Or just read the book of Obadiah. "Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares The Lord. (Obadiah 1:4) 

Here's what Jesus commands us to do instead- "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4) And then keep reading from there about how Jesus, though He was God, didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself of all but love and bled for Adam's helpless race (okay- that last part's from one of my favorite hymns "And Can It Be?" by Charles Wesley :-)).

But look at what Philippians 2:21 tells us- "For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." - WOW. Isn't that true of all of us? This should not be. The interests of Jesus Christ should be our foremost interests- make Him our highest joy and He'll take care of the rest. "Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in The Lord.' " (1 Corinthians 1:31)