WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER?

SCRIPTURE:
What causes fights and quarrels among you? 
Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 
(James 4:1)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever thought about how much different our world would be 
if selfishness could be eliminated?
However, we live in a world that encourages selfishness 
and as a result, we experience all kinds of problems and issues.
A popular phrase for years “Just do it!” implied 
that we should do whatever we desire, with total disregard 
of the impact on others, or the consequences for ourselves.

The scriptures not only point us to our Savior, 
but they also provide guidance for living out our lives here on earth.
We can see in the book of James how it speaks about our own selfishness.
Our efforts to fulfill our selfish desires 
causes all kinds of conflicts with others.
As others try to live selfishly, they also cause conflicts with others.

We can see the consequences of selfishness
when we observe the constant conflicts in the world.
Fights, arguments, hurt feelings, bodily harm, anger, and even death 
are often the byproducts of selfishness.
You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what 
you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask 
God. (James 4:2)

Some are so focused on themselves and their desires, 
that they forget to ask God to fulfill the voids in their lives.
And even when some turn to Him, 
they ask God to fulfill their desires, rather than their needs.

Some feel that riches would solve all of their problems, 
so they ask God to increase their wealth.
But of course, God reads the hearts of man and he knows how increased wealth 
will not only increase his selfishness, but how it will also cause many
to drift farther away from Him as wealth causes them to feel more independent. 
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, 
that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:3)

ACTION:
What does your own personal 'selfish meter' look like?
Are your prayers laced with selfishness?
How often are your prayers focused on the good and benefit of others?
Think about the cause of some of your recent conflicts.
More than likely they resulted from a clash of your selfishness 
with the selfishness of someone else.

As an example, think about how conversations can cause problems.
God gave us two ears and one mouth, 
so He may have intended for us to listen twice as much as we talk. 
However, many are too preoccupied with what they want to say 
and they fail to fully listen to others.
This can cause hurt feelings, 
and especially when a person is trying to express the burdens of their heart.

Selfishness can cause some to play a game of 'one upmanship' 
where they want to tell something greater than what another has told 
(which often includes boasting and/or lying).
That type of conversation does not promote a cordial relationship.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for how Your Word provides me with 
guidance for living and having pleasant relationships with others, 
and with You. Forgive me for my selfish actions and words, and help 
me to develop a new perspective that is pleasing to You, and promotes 
better relationships with others. Teach me to listen more so I can fully 
digest the things others want to share with me. Most of all, guide me 
in all things so that I will be less selfish and become more a reflection 
of Your Son, Jesus.”