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Self
“Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:26).
Those who live for their own glory or self-esteem are stuck in an unhappy sandwich. On one side is envying one another: always thinking there are others who are better than we are or who have more than we have. On the other side is provoking one another: in other words, those we associate with are provoked to envy or covetousness.
On the other hand those who live for Christ and His approval have a far better object than living for the eye of man. Instead, they live for the eye of God. They can help the unfortunate and rejoice with the successful. We are to live for the Lord, and to serve Him, “not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God … Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:22, 24).
To live for self is miserable at best. To live for Christ is joy and peace. The Apostle Paul said, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).
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