2nd Timothy 3:1-2, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”
We are living in a very selfish world today. Our text passage of Scripture
foretold that in the last days, people would become lovers of their own
selves—selfish, self-righteous, self-centered and self-willed.
I was in an ABC store today, looking around. As I made my way to the checkout counter, I heard the most selfish, repulsive and offensive music. The lyrics said:
What Have You Done For Me Lately?
What have you done for me lately
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
What have you done for me lately
Ooh ooh ooh yeah...Used to be a time when you would pamper me
Used to brag about it all the time
Your friends seem to think that you're so peachy keen
But my friends say neglect is on your mind...
Who's right?
What have you done for me lately
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
What have you done for me lately
Ooh ooh ooh yeah.
I was so disgusted that I kindly said to the woman cashier with a smile on my face, “That's a selfish song: 'What have you done for me lately?'” She replied, “Well, if that's how you feel.” I kindly said, “No, that's not how I feel, listen to what she's singing... 'What have you done for me lately?'” I said, “She should be singing, 'What can I do for you?'” She didn't say anything else. I went home to search the internet to find out what IDIOT sang this stupid and very selfish song. To no surprise, it's Janet Jackson from her 1986 album, “Control.” I don't recall ever hearing the song before, thankfully.
My friend, nothing could be any further from Biblical Christianity than asking what someone has done for you lately. As God's children we ought to look continually for what we can do for OTHERS. Our Lord washed His disciple's dirty feet, as an example to all believers how to treat one another. Jesus thought about the needs and burdens of OTHERS. Philippians 2:4-5, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Jesus was not selfish. He lived to help other people. Jesus sacrificed His life in death, so that instead of death we could have eternal life. Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. Thank you Lord Jesus!!!
In his inaugural speech delivered on January 20, 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy made this memorable statement:
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
That is very true. Ah, but how much more should we ask what we can do for our God, Creator and Savior? What can I do for my neighbour? What can I do to help the poor and homeless? What can I do to help my family? What can I do to help OTHERS? The best thing any of us can do for our country today is to support local New Testament churches, pray, go soul-winning, and fight the good fight of faith with the Sword of the Word of God against the evils of our generation.
Janet Jackson's song was written by herself, and others produced the track. The song is about a neglectful husband, obviously; but if every wife had that kind of ungodly attitude, asking what has her husband done for her lately, all marriages would end in divorce. Miss Jackson's worldly attitude is that of the ungodly Charismatic movement, that is, give to get! Any wife who is reluctant to give 100% unless her husbands does his part is a wicked woman.
Lord let me live from day to
day,
In such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for others.
Others, Lord, yes, others;
Let this my motto be.
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee.
A Christian wife is commanded by God to submit to her husband as unto the Lord Jesus Christ, not only if he returns the gesture. Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” Marriage is not a 50/50 proposition; but rather, a 100/100 commitment. You're supposed to give 100% diligence and effort, even if your spouse only returns 20% (or nothing). This is God's way! This is the holy way! This is second-mile Christianity, which is almost unheard of nowadays.
May I say, kindly, Janet Jackson is a feminist fool. Communism boasts of being able to put a new coat on a man, but only Christianity can put a new man in the coat. When Saul became a born-again Christian, Jesus Christ changed him. Instead of breaking-down Christian's doors and assaulting them, now he is gladly giving himself away to help his brethren in Christ. 2nd Corinthians 12:15, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” The heart's desire of a believer who is walking close to the Lord is to love, forgive, give, mend and comfort OTHERS. Oh, it is wonderful to be a Christian. It is wonderful to be God's child.
A Christian life of discipleship is one of giving, not receiving. Salvation is solely a matter of receiving, and not giving. Eternal life is the gift of God. It cannot be merited or earned. No one deserves to go to Heaven. We all deserve to go to Hell, which is the wages of our sins. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” When Christ went to the cross to bleed, suffer and die for our sins, He did not first ask, “What have you done for me lately?” Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” What an awesome Savior!!!
Please keep the following precious passage of Scripture in mind when dealing with people. Ephesians 4:30-32, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” If God can forgive a woeful sinner like me, then I certainly can and want to forgive everyone who has ever wronged me. I've been hurt by many people throughout life, but I have forgiven them by placing it all into God's hands for judgment. Life is too short to live with a burden of hatred. I refuse to do it.
Sincerely, I have nothing but love toward all 7,214,958,996[1] people on the planet. The Holy Bible teaches that the way we treat the least among us is how we treat Jesus. Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” What have I done for OTHERS lately? What have I done for Jesus today? END
