March 12, 2023

SELFISH IS AS SELFISH DOES

© 2009 – imperpetuity AMKCH

*The King James version is used in this teaching. However, For simplicity of reading and understanding, I have changed only the “you”, “eth”, “ist”, and “thou” and such words, to today’s language. I have NOT CHANGED ANY verses nor their meanings. The italicized words are italicized in the KJV but are not in the original text. These were added to supposedly “make it easier for the lay person to understand”. However, many times, those words themselves change the whole meaning of that verse! Try reading the verse without those words. It just may make more sense to you!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

By studying YHWH’s Word, we can learn to live how He would have us to live. He knows our minds and hearts… even before we do! He discerns our every intent behind what we are planning. There is no hiding anything from Him!!! Everything we think, say and do, will be made known by God Almighty!

Matt 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

2 Cor 9:7-8 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Matt 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Psa 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.

There are many different ways we can give: Not only money and gifts, but friendship, visitation, helping someone do something, and talking to someone who needs a listener “just being there”; “a shoulder to lean on”.

There is a thin line between giving out of selfishness and giving out of the kindness of your heart. How can one tell the difference? There are two questions one must ask themselves when choosing to give:

1. What is the real reason for giving, or doing something for this person?

2. Are there any secret, ulterior motives behind my giving; i.e. what do I expect in return if anything?

When giving things like money or gifts, most people have a hope of receiving something in return. Even when speaking with others, people have a huge tendency to be selfish. They want to be the one people listen to. They interrupt the one speaking. They make impatient gestures. Or they may even walk away. Also, there are many folks that are just takers and won’t give anything at all. Sometimes people just need for you to be the listener or the giver.

We are taught throughout God’s Word how and what we should give. He talks about talking with others, helping others out, doing for others as you would want them to do to you, to the priests… and sharing what you have with the fatherless, the homeless, the widows, and the orphans.

This last does NOT mean that we are, as supposed by today’s pulpits, to give 10 percent of our income to the churches where the pastors pocket it all… Actually what YHWH DID tell Israel was that the priests (Levite’s) were to receive only 10 percent of that 10 percent tithe!!! The other 90 percent of the tithe was to be shared in a feast, with the fatherless, the homeless, the widows, and the orphans. It’s all in the Biblical books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Please take time to read these books before continuing in this message.

When you chose to give, or do something for someone, remember what Yeshua says about it:

Matt 5:46 For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans the same?

Loving someone that loves you isn’t helping your case any. Everyone has someone that they love… family, friends, co-workers, etc. But those who don’t love us in return are those He wants us to love. In other words, love the un-lovable, i.e. everyone, even your enemy!

5:47 And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Saying “hello”, and stopping to chat with someone you know… Everyone does that… Try stopping to say “hello” and chat with and encourage those you don’t know. Stopping to chat with someone you don’t know, may just boost their spirit or mood. It may be that your stopping is exactly what they needed right there at that time!

But again, on the flip side; maybe your “chatting” is too much. Instead of chatting, try listening for a while… quietly. The person may just need to vent… to let off steam… and needs someone just to listen – without saying anything. That often helps tremendously. Many people’s lives have been saved, just by the fact that someone actually cared enough to stop and listen.

6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

How can you expect YHWH to forgive you for something small or big, that you’ve done, if you don’t forgive someone for something they’ve said or done to you? We do this by giving, listening. helping, forgiving.

6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

People have a tendency to “horde” stuff. They have collections of this or that; they never throw anything away. While at the same time, there are people who have nothing. When we die, we can’t take anything with us to the grave. I’m not speaking of the stuff we need to live. I’m speaking of the unproductive, un-necessary stuff we… just have. Stuff that clogs and clutters our homes and our lives.

And, as we know from archaeological digs and reports, thieves have broken in and stolen many of the artifacts that the person had buried with them. This even happens today! Before the person is buried in the ground, it has been reported that the people burying the dead, have opened the coffins and taken what they found interesting or valuable; jewelry, frames with pictures in them, whatever they wanted.

7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

I covered only a bit of the giving aspect so that we can understand what we are not to do. Giving is the complete opposite of selfishness. Selfishness thinks only of self… What can I get for my troubles? I gave you this, now what will you give me in return? I have something I want to say and don’t want to listen to what you have to tell me.

Selfishness stirs up strife, anger, even rebellion. Countries are fought over because one person wants to rule over and control the people. It only takes one person to say something out of selfishness and greed, and wars are started. Families are destroyed because of selfishness. Houses are broken into and stolen from because of selfishness.

What can I do to stop being selfish? That is easy to answer, but unless we put our hearts into it, it can be very difficult to overcome.

The first and foremost thing to do is: Ask God, and those you to whom you have been selfish, for forgiveness. Then forgive yourself.

Give what you don’t need to those who don’t have… even if you don’t know them, without expecting or asking for anything in return.

What are the rewards for giving up selfishness, and helping those I don’t know? Plenty!!! You gain everything from YHWH!!!

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

This means that perfect strangers will want to give to you. You will find things taken care of that you thought could never be, you will find protection in the darkest of dangerous alleys. All at the most perfect opportune moment!

But more importantly, look at that last part of the verse…. “with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again“. This means that we must give out of love, not greed or selfishness. Because what you give, in that manner, it will be given back to you in like manner, selfishness and greed.

Tithing is another subject altogether. The churches these days have it all wrong and are teaching false doctrine. They claim that you must absolutely give THEM 10 percent of your income. That is NOT the truth, AT ALL!!! YHWH specifically states in His Word, that the people of Israel were to bring the tithes to the temple; The priests would get ONLY 10 percent of that!…. The rest was to be spent on a feast shared by your family, the homeless, the widow, and the orphans. I don’t see the churches these days doing any of that! Most of the pastors drive around in expensive cars and own homes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, bought with YOUR money!!!!! Talk about being selfish and greedy!!!!! But they shall absolutely get their just reward:

Jer 23:1-2 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; you have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

Then, the pastors will use Malachi 3:8 to try to get you to believe YOU are the one robbing God! This is NOT what it is talking about!

Mal 3:8-10 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. you are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

What this verse is referring to is the following: The way the priests took the meat for themselves, but NOT how God wanted them to have it:

1 Sam 2:13-17 And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand; And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as you soul desires then he would answer him, Nay; but you shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

He was NOT talking about the “regular people”. The priests were not giving YHWH what He wanted of them. Which is EXACTLY what the pastors these days are following after! THIS is what YHWH was talking about!

Let YHWH’s peace be upon you as you let go of selfishness and embrace love and giving for your neighbor instead.

Keep your wicks trimmed and your lamps filled with oil! The KING is coming soon!