is God selfish?

[Musician4Jesus]

NOTES: I'm not saying God is selfish, I'm merely asking; there's a huge difference. I'm not trying to be a blasphemer, create waves by posting this thread etc. Yes I know what the Bible says about love and fruits of the spirit, and I know and understand God is all these things.

The bottom line is that yes while God has done all these great and wonderful things, by and large most of it is for his benefit.

When he blesses us, etc. it's to bring glory to him, to share his love, because us loving him, pleases him; he doesn't need our love, but he does want it.

When Jesus came to earth to die for the sin of mankind, he was still doing so for himself; although it would glorify God, it would glorify him too, because Jesus said incessantly "Me and the father are one" (they're different aspects of God, but they're both manifestations of the same God).

When he created us, it was for His pleasure. Yeah being loved by God is the greatest gift a human can be bestowed with, but he still did it for himself.

When we share the love of Christ to others and/or somebody becomes saved, we do so to glorify God. What talents etc. we use to serve and others, is to please God.

My question is I always thought being selfish was wrong? I get that God's 'selfishness' is totally different than that of man's selfishness but I really don't get how.

I know he is entitled to the worship praise etc. because if it wasn't for him, nothing good would happen (we wouldn't exist, creation wouldn't exist, we'd be doomed to hell, etc.)

However that's about all I know with it, and even with that I still don't fully understand it.

 

[joey_downunder]

God is a perfect, holy Being, therefore He is the one Being that genuinely deserves all things for His benefit no matter what - no exceptions, no fine print, no conditions.

I think we have trouble imagining someone deserving worship no matter because we ourselves are so imperfect and see the world through sin-stained and broken glasses.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

 

[Michaelrh1325]

He himself says he is a jealous God, so that right there would make him selfish. However, he deserves all things, all praise, and has every right to be jealous, selfish, or anything else he desires.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

God's jealousy is more like how a married man feels when someone is after his wife. It's a desire for righteousness, not of envy. Human jealousy is often wanting what we don't have or someone else does have.

 

[dollarsbill]

God does everything His way. He doesn't have to ask anyone else. Call it selfish if you like. I wouldn't.

 

[gideon123]

Was He selfish when He gave up His son to die a terrible death for us? I can tell you quite honestly that as a parent I could never do that with my own children. It would be impossible.

Most of the time when God asks for our love and dedication - He is trying to get us to re-arrange our priorities. It's always a good thing. As human beings we don't do well when we become self-absorbed. It often promotes selfish thoughts, and behaviors that cause us to stumble. Just a practical thought.

cheers,
Gideon123

 

[CounselorForChrist]

For a very brief time I wondered if he was selfish, but then I realized hes not. He knows whats good for us, so often we get mad because something didn't work out our way, we think hes selfish but if anything hes helping us. Our human minds (and the devil) just cloud that fact sadly.

 

[dollarsbill]

For a very brief time I wondered if he was selfish, but then I realized hes not. He knows whats good for us, so often we get mad because something didn't work out our way, we think hes selfish but if anything hes helping us. Our human minds (and the devil) just cloud that fact sadly.

True indeed. He always does what is exactly right.

 

[BFine]

Man's selfishness... when "man" is
selfish his heart/mind is darkened and out of that darkness/wickedness
can come all sorts of depravity: adultery, stealing, rape, slander etc.
God doesn't become like that.

God is a jealous God, not selfish.

self·ish

   [sel-fish]
adjective 1.devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.

2.characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself: selfish motives.


3. stingy

 

[Musician4Jesus]

Um okay the analogy you gave is very difficult for single ppl to relate to because they're NOT married.

Sure in their head they understand, but they don't really grasp it because they've never experienced being married.


Also I'm going to assume God has to love himself because God is love. However I still don't get it; when ppl love themselves it's seen as narcissism.

I don't fully get how it's different with God.

I get God is entitled to all of this, but I don't understand how which is what I'm trying to figure out.

The jealousy and envy stuff is seen as bad from a human perspective. I can't look at it from God's perspective, because I'm not God, so yeah I'm not going to understand it from his perspective since I'm not him.

God is worthy of these things I get that but it seems to be a paradox; he loves us is concerned about us, etc. but those aren't His only motives. You can't deny that he's doing so for himself as well, because that's what the Bible says.

Also I get how selfless awesome wonderful etc. the love of Christ is by him dying on the cross. However that wasn't the only reason he did so; he was doing so to glorify God, so wouldn't that mean he was doing so for himself? I get it was for God the Father, but Jesus SAID himself that 'if you've seen me you've seen the Father'. This basically means although they're different aspects of God, they're ultimately the same God.
\
When I refer to his glory etc. it's primarily in regards to worshiping him; yeah I really don't get worship, except I know it's about loving God. I know it's for God, but ultimately it's mutually beneficial (even if you're doing so w/the right motives).

 

[CounselorForChrist]

don't fully get how it's different with God

Just as you said, from our persective we see it diffrent. He doesn't have human emotios so he cannot be narcissistic.

I get God is entitled to all of this, but I don't understand how

Well its because hes God. Lets face it if you don't just accept it then we will end up using our limited knowledge to question him on it. Its just like people who ask why God doesn't stop babies from being killed. Or how did God just "exist", didn't he come from somewhere?

For us we can't wrap our heads around things that are beyond our knowledge! I myself can't phanthom the idea he had no beggining and no end...he just "is". It still blows my mind. I believe it of course, its just wild to think about! Although I gotta say, because of time, we think this way also. Without time we could probably get our heads around it. But then again time isn't even real. lol. See. So many brain bending things to think about!

 

[Musician4Jesus]

The he has no beginning and end thing isn't what confuses me and it's not what I don't understand or rather am having problems 'accepting' for lack of a better term (idk how else to explain it sorry).

It's just how the Bible says 'love isn't self seeking' so how can somebody who 'loves themselves' not be selfish? It doesn't make any sense to me, because it vastly seems to contradict one of the core aspects of love which is it's selfless; it's just an intrinsic part of love.

Then I suppose part of it is I have a problem thinking of myself etc. Yeah I'm selfish but I always try to put the needs of others before my own.

 

[Pal Handy]

The he has no beginning and end thing isn't what confuses me and it's not what I don't understand or rather am having problems 'accepting' for lack of a better term (idk how else to explain it sorry).

It's just how the Bible says 'love isn't self seeking' so how can somebody who 'loves themselves' not be selfish? It doesn't make any sense to me, because it vastly seems to contradict one of the core aspects of love which is it's selfless; it's just an intrinsic part of love.

Then I suppose part of it is I have a problem thinking of myself etc. Yeah I'm selfish but I always try to put the needs of others before my own.

God is love...

Who does God love in the beginning before He created us?

God is three in one so God was able to love within the community of the trinity.
(see the video below)

We are able to love within a trinity of sorts also.

We are three in one.

We have a body, a soul and a spirit.

We can love ourselves in the knowledge that we are made by God
and are made in His image and likeness so we can love ourselves
as we represent the love of God within us who created us for love and
breathed His very life within us and made us living souls.

Those who cannot love themselves do not have the love of God
working within them because they believe a lie and refuse to allow
the expression of God's love within themselves.

We love ourselves because God loves us first and He places a value upon
that which He created us for which is love.

God loved us before we ever loved Him.
God gave Himself to us completely in God the Son, Jesus Christ.
God has proved His love completely in His humbling Himself in the form
of a man as He has taken upon Himself all of our sin, shame and all our blame.

Who will accuse God of being selfish when He gave us all of Himself?

God laid His heart of love open and bare before all men to be accepted
or rejected.

God has made Himself totally vunerable and subject to the ability of
of each person to choose to accept or reject His love and
to instead choose to hate Him, even though He loves them absolutely.

Loving yourself as God's child created for love is not selfish when
that love that we receive from God is returned back to God.

Love is selfless when we return it and do not become arrogant in
the love that God gives us but are instead humbled by the fact
that God loves us even when we cannot understand why.

God is not selfish because if He were He never would have given us
the most valuable gift of all, freewill and the ability to choose to
accept or reject His love.

We truly have been given the greatest gift in freewill as we have power
to accept or reject God....
With great power comes great responsibility...
Choose wisely...

God has given us the authority to place ourselves and our own will,
above His own desire and will to love us.

God is not selfish but is gracious and giving as He has given us His very nature to
allow us the ability to choose if we will accept God's love and return His love
or if we will choose to reject Him and His love for us.

God is so giving and unselfish that He is willing to suffer great heartbreak and loss
of anyone of His children who may reject Him and His love simply because love
can never be forced or else it isn't love at all but slavery.

God gave us so much and yet many throw His gifts back in His face and
accuse Him of not loving them simple because God refuses to give
in to their selfish and destructive desires to make themselves a god
as they believe God should be subservient to themselves in all their
own wims and self destructive desires.

God forces no one to love Him.
God has made Himself subservient to our will of acceptence or rejection of His love for us.

God has given us the power of choice but He will not contribute
to our own destruction by enabling us to have those things we ask for
in prayer that will lead us away from His love for us.

The devil can and will deceive us and bring about those things
in our lives that will cause us to question God's love and lead
us away from God.

God is good and He is wise and He knows when and how to answer
our prayers in such a way to bless us and lead us to Himself.

The devil knows how to lie against God's love and to place doubt in our hearts.

The devil is the accusor and will always lead us away from God.

God will always lead us toward Himself because He loves us.

We must choose who we will believe.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9gwoZNudCI

 

[ChrisHolland619]

God is jealous, and God is deserving, and guess what? That's perfectly fine, because He's God, and we aren't.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Musician4Jesus. God starts off His Commandments: "I am God, thou shalt have NO other gods before me." God is not being jealous, God is stating a very important fact. In St. Matthews, chapter 22, verses 34-40: Jesus gives us these most important Commandments: " Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. The second is like it: Love our neighbour as ourselves."It started to go wrong in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve disregarded God`s loving advice: Do not eat of the Tree of knowledge, if you do, you will die. Their eyes were opened and they let selfishness into their hearts. God banished them to Earth, and instead of listening to God, they moved farther and farther away from God.
In time Jesus came and told us how our loving Heavenly Father wants our love: For God with all our beings, and for our neighbour as for ourselves. The Bible, God`s Word to Man, tells us again and again: " Repent," change from being selfish and unloving TO: Love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. and love our neighbour, ( all we know and all we meet, friends as well as Not friends)love our neighbour as Ourselves.
Now imagine Heaven, God`s Kingdom, where we hope to be one day, and there we do as we like/love, would it be God`s Kingdom? would we follow God`s loving advice in all we do, or say? or would it be another Garden of Eden, where temptation is waiting to beguile us?
God is Love, and God wants our love freely given and no conditions made. God wants loving children/sons and daughters, to live with for eternity. We have years to become better and better. And Jesus will give us his Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit inside us will empower us. Jesus told us to " Ask and ye will be given," then we thank God, and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. We will stumble and forget at times, but we ask God to forgive us, and God will forgive us, as we will forgive others. There is no other way, Musician, and Love is very catching. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Itagaki]

According to the Calvinist, yes.

According to the Bible and reality, no.

Love cannot, by definition, be selfish. See 1 Cor. 13.

 

[Godprophet]

Dear Beloved


1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God"

1 Corinthians 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men"

1 Corinthians 2:14 "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ"

1 CORINTHIANS II. 7-12 “The deep things of God cannot be discovered by unaided reason. "Eye hath not seen:" they are not to be apprehended by the artistic vision. "Ear hath not heard:" they are not unveiled amid the discussion of the philosophic schools. "Neither hath entered into the heart of man:" even poetic insight cannot discern them. All the common lights fail in this realm. We need another illumination, even that provided”

1 CORINTHIANS II. 9-16 “Our finest human instruments fail to obtain for us "the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." Art fails! "Eye hath not seen." The merely artistic vision is blind to the hidden glories of grace. Philosophy fails! "Neither hath ear heard." We may listen to the philosopher as he spins his subtle theories and weaves his systematic webs, but the meshes he has woven are not fine enough to catch "the deep things of God." Poetry fails!”

Go to GOD in prayers by faith and ask for the baptism of the holy spirit because my Bible tells me in John 16:13 "But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.



For more information, please pm me

God Bless You

GODPROPHET
(YOUR HUMBLE PROPHET)

 

[Ark100]

If God was selfish, He would not give us free-will.
If God was selfish, He would not send His only Son to die for us
If God was selfish, He would not have created man in His own image in the first place.
I think you are just thinking out of ignorance...simply human ignorance

For in Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts"

 

[MarkfromGermany]

Is the question for you to date@ musician?

 

[Pal Handy]

God is the most unselfish person in the universe.

All that He has done is for our benefit.

He created a beautiful garden and placed man in it to
be with Him and to walk in love and fellowship with Him.

Are parents selfish when they love their children?

When parents give up their lives and settle down to raise
their children in a home full of love, protection,
nurturing and desire to see the best for their children
are they being selfish?

God does not want glory because He is vain but rather God
is glorious and He desires to share that glory with us, His children.

Do you realize that the glory and majesty of the Father was given to His son Jesus Christ?

John 17
5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself,
with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Do you realize that the glory that God gave to His Son will be given to us
who are in Christ?

Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

God is so unselfish that He wants to share all of who He is with us.

God humbled Himself and became as we are (mortal men)
So that we can become as He is (perfect, holy and eternal)

Those that know God will glorify Him because He is deserving
of all the glory in that He has giving us everything of Himself
in complete and utter unselfishness because He is love and
He cannot do otherwise.

God is love so all His actions toward us is based upon His perfect love.