Author Scott Sauls recounts: There’s a Groucho Marx skit that I love because I relate to it so much. In the skit, Groucho is having a conversation with a friend, in which he goes on and on (and on and on …) about himself. In the course of his continual chatter about himself, he slips into a brief moment of self-awareness and apologizes to his friend for talking so much about himself. He politely says to his friend, “Well. Enough about me. Let’s talk about you. What do you think about me?”
Throughout Scripture we see two scenarios play out. One involves God and an individual who chooses to let God be their Center. Once that choice is made it takes our breath away as we watch, time, and time again, what only God can do. The second scenario only causes us to wince and groan at the agony of their defeat. Once again the scenario involves God and an individual. Only this time the individual chooses themself to be their center. Defeat, tragedy, and destruction often accompany such a scenario.
Recently I’ve been preaching about how to grow faith, and what is an enemy of faith – our fear. But there is something even more insidious than fear. You may ask, What is that? The answer is quite simple: Self-centeredness. Self-centeredness, is at the root of most of all of our fear. It robs us of faith as we focus on what we can, and cannot do. When Moses was called by God to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage he repeatedly gave excuses based solely on his self. Ultimately, Moses self-centeredness got the best of him, disqualifying him from entering the Promised Land. Yet, we see other biblical examples of triumph. When Jesus was in a similar wilderness, led by the Spirit, Jesus had a showdown with the author of self-centeredness: satan himself. In one of those temptations the Scripture records satan taking Jesus to the top of the temple. Scripture records: Then the devil took Him into the holy city and placed Him on a turret (pinnacle, gable) of the temple sanctuary. And he said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God. (Matthew 4: 5-7)
The test of praying and seeking God through fasting; the trial of meeting Jesus outside the camp is self-centeredness. Jesus passed this test through faith. Satan wanted Jesus to center on Himself (He was God’s Son). But Jesus remained fixed by faith, focusing instead, on His Father. Recently I recounted how I was challenged to pray for a man who was having difficulty walking. Instead of choosing Jesus to be my Center I focused on my self. Once that focus was locked in – faith withered. I flunked the test. Henry Blackaby of Experiencing God states: “Throughout Scripture God takes the initiative. When He comes to a person, He reveals Himself and His activity. That revelation is always an invitation for individuals to adjust their lives to God. None of the people God encountered could remain the same afterwards. They had to make major adjustments in their lives to walk obediently with Him. God is the Sovereign Lord. Strive to keep your life God-centered because He is the One Who sets the agenda. When you are God-centered, even the desires to do the things that please Him come from God’s activity in your life. What happens when we see God at work? We immediately become self-centered rather than God-centered. We must reorient our lives to God. We should learn to see things from His perspective. We need to allow Him to develop His character in us.
To seek Jesus through prayer and fasting, and join Him outside the camp, is an invitation to abandon all self-centeredness. Faith grows in us from a choice to abandon self-centeredness, and fixing our gaze on Who God is. He is Immanuel – the God Who is Present in your circumstances, even when the darkness of His Presence grows darker.
