Our thinking was that we had completed the discussion on our multitasking God, but God had other ideas. Since obedience is better than sacrifice, we go with God by staying on that concept, trusting God to speak to us. When we say that we should not study the Bible for the benefit of others, is that not selfish? You may recall that the previous post ended with that idea.
At that time, we concluded that studying the Bible should not be with an eye on your next sermon. We must study and digest for our personal use. Now, I believe God wants to reassure the teachers and preachers among us that doing so is not selfish. For those who fly regularly, you notice that crew members give you similar counsel: “Apply your oxygen mask before helping others, including your child, with theirs.”
Not only is such advice not selfish, it is biblical. Take Hagar as an example. You may remember her as Sarah’s handmaid who gave birth to Abraham’s first son. When that situation resulted in trouble within the home, Sarah caused Abraham to send Hagar and her son away, with one bottle of water. Keep in mind, the region was desert, and the water soon ran out.
Without water, both mother and child were sure to die from thirst. Hagar moved away from the child and said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” She lifted her voice and wept. At that lowest point of her life, God (the Jehovah Shammah) came to her rescue. It is exactly like when a plane is about to fall out of the sky.
The Reason It is Not Selfish
There is nothing you can do at that point unless God comes to your rescue. At that point, you have no choice but to listen to the instructions of the trained crew. When they tell you to apply your face mask first, is that not selfish? Not at all, and here is why. Unless you are breathing, you are unable to help others.
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Let us say you disobey and apply your son’s mask first, believing you are not selfish. Your son now has his face mask and is breathing normally, but you have passed out. Of what good is your son to you, since he cannot apply your face mask to your face? That is why the instruction to take care of yourself first is not selfish.
It was the same with Hagar in the desert. You will find the story in the second half of the 21st chapter of Genesis. The angel told her to stand up, to take care of herself first. You will know why that is not selfish if you can paint a mental picture of Hagar. There she would be (in your picture) trying to lift her son from a crouching, weeping position. Not only is it impossible to lift anyone unless you are yourself standing upright, but it is ludicrous.
Studying the Bible Is Similar
Therefore, the angel asked Hagar to be reasonable, not selfish. He did not ask her not to help her son, just to be sure she is equipped to do so. Here is what the angel told Hagar: “Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” It is not selfish to be standing upright first before picking up the child.
It is not selfish to ‘arise’ scripturally and spiritually before attempting to lift others. Indeed, it is wise and also a command. Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. If they had attempted to go without waiting to be empowered, they could not have achieved what they did, and the devil would have made mincemeat of them.
You surely recall the story of the seven sons of Sceva. They did not possess what it took, but wanted to cast out demons. The demons showed them who was their boss. That is why reading the bible for yourself is not selfish. You do so to obtain the power and knowledge of Jesus with which you can then chase demons.
Sadly, many of our preachers have not fully imbibed the message of Jesus and yet pretend to be deliverance ministers. It is not selfish at all to spend more time reading the Bible for yourself. No doubt, God meant this for your reassurance as you determine to study the Bible for your benefit. I hope I have done a faithful job of representing Him to you.
Maranatha!
