Notes: "I am not the center" Attitude

Steve Elzinga


The “I am not the center” Attitude

The problems with 
self-centered kids

Selfish

2 Timothy 3:2-4 ESV For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God …

Selfish children do not care who they hurt to get what they want.

 

The problems with 
self-centered kids

Self-absorbed

Self-absorbed children do not mean to hurt anybody as they go after what they want; they just are so self-absorbed that they have no idea that they are hurting others to go after what they want.

Romans 15:2 NIV Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

 

The problems with 
self-centered kids

Self-aggrandizement

1 Corinthians 10:24 NIV For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 

The problems with 
self-centered kids

Self-entitlement

i.e. Luke 15 The Parable of the Two Sons

 

The Negative 
consequences of 
self-centered kids

Matthew 19:30 (NIV) But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Haggai 1:9 ESV You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.

 

 

How do kids learn 
humility?

Be an example

Deuteronomy 6:8-9 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

 

How do kids learn 
humility?

Teach these principles

Listen before speaking

Romans 15:2 NIV Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

 

 

Teach these principles

Be curious about how other’s interest

Philippians 2:3-4 ESV Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

 

 

Teach these principles

Compromise

Mark 12:31 NIV Love your neighbor as yourself.

The ROI of serving others

Proverbs 11:25 NIV A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

 

 

Teach these principles

God first

Acts 20:24 NIV However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

The way of denial

Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

 

 

Teach these principles

Christ in your child

Galatians 2:20 NIV I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.