Dying to Self

After all of these years, I have pretty much decided that my greatest enemy is not Satan. It is me! More specifically it is my selfishness. It's my tendency for my motivation to do anything to be "What can I get out of this?" or "How can I manipulate people, circumstances, etc. to get things to turn out the way I want them?"

I don't think these things consciously! It is just obvious when I really evaluate my behaviors and feelings. The irony of it all is that this approach causes me great pain and is very tiring. It is hard work to always be trying to manipulate your surroundings. It is no fun for those who love me either.

Many years ago, I worked for a pastor named Bill Britton. He was an author and evangelist. One of the articles that he wrote follows. In the end, it is obvious to me that I am NOT dead yet.

Dying to Self

Bill Britton

When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, now that’s dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, and when your wishes are crossed, when your advice is disregarded, and your opinions are ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart,
or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence, now friends, that’s dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear with any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured it, that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, or any interruption by the will of God, now friends, that’s dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown, now that’s dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit, and feel no envy or question God about it, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances, now, friends, that is really dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, now that is dying to self.

Well, are you dead yet?