To see the Christ-like mind, we should first consider the self-centeredness of the natural mind.
Look at a baby
If a baby is hungry or uncomfortable, he howls for attention. He must do so for his survival as he cannot take care of himself and cannot politely ask help from others. These are carnal, or natural, instincts in operation. If these instincts are not curbed as the baby grows, he becomes a complete victim of them and, upon reaching maturity, finds his mind is in total subjection to his body. When his natural desires suffer any interference, such an adult expresses disappointment, sulkiness and violence — all things at variance to the will of God.
Carrying forward the undisciplined conduct of a baby, such a man brings others into subjection to his will by oppression and bloodshed. He seeks a form of worship from other men. He fulfills the lust of the flesh and the pride of life through the pursuit of material gain. Here is the person centered on self rather than on others and asserting his own will without regard to God’s.
Most people find their selfishness curtailed by parents who, for their own convenience at least, begin to train a child to control his natural impulses. But we all have these basic instincts and must bear in mind that it is from this human kind that we have been called.
The knowledge of God
In our case, we have been blessed with an understanding of the promises of God. As we become familiar with the things concerning the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God, we rejoice in the opportunity to become heirs, with Christ, of this great and glorious kingdom.
Further, we become enlightened that we are entirely unfit for such a glorious position. We learn we must not be governed by the desires of the flesh but must be ruled by the will of God. To do this, our thinking must be radically changed so that we no longer find pleasure in selfishness, but rather in being unselfish.
We discover that we must adopt some of the ways of children — not the uninhibited indulgence of the flesh but the trustfulness of a little child who relies on his parents for protection, guidance and help in trouble. This characteristic, when practiced by an adult, is humility.
So then, we learn from God’s word that we must not be absorbed in ourselves but must become unselfish toward man and humble before God.
Problem with riches
As we consider the teaching of Jesus, we find him reproving a rich young man for calling Jesus “good” Master. Jesus does not accept the honor of being called “good,” but gives this honor to God. This lesson teaches us that we must bestow all honor upon God and remember we are of a nature resulting from sin and powerfully inclined to sin.
Considering further the incident of the rich young ruler, we find it is almost impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, for we cannot put our trust both in God and in worldly riches. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Mt. 6:24). People can be rich without trying to be, but it is very unlikely. And rich people do not have to fall in love with their riches, but it is very hard for them not to. Thus “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
On the other hand, if we give up the things of this world for Christ’s sake, we shall receive an hundred-fold in blessing. To give up these things shows a pint of unselfishness which is essential if we are to receive eternal life.
Those unselfish and selfish
In the early ecclesia, we get an inter-testing contrast. Most of the brethren and sisters exhibited great unselfishness. “All that believed were together and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need…neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of houses or lands sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold…” (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35).
Many of these early brethren would have scrimped and saved for years to buy the property which they now gladly ;ave to the ecclesia. Here was unselfishness in practice.
In contrast to the this attitude was that of Ananias and Sapphira. “A certain man named Ananias with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles feet” (Acts 5:1-2).
Why didn’t they give the whole amount to ecclesial welfare? They were selfish. Why did they pretend that they were being as faithful as everybody else? They were proud, not humble. They were absorbed in themselves, in their own pleasures and egos.
The widow’s mite
There was a widow who donated two mites to God. That was the smallest of donations but Christ said it looked the biggest to God because she gave everything she had. We find the lesson here teaches that it is not the amount that we give which is important to God. Neither is it important how much we are able to assist others, for obviously some can have much more impact than others. The important point to God is how much sacrifice we are prepared to make for His sake.
Transforming our minds
If we learn to think spiritually instead of naturally, if we learn to concentrate on God and other people instead of ourselves, we will not find humility and unselfishness a problem. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
If we bear the cross willingly, it will soon bear us and lead us beyond the reach of suffering. If we bear it with reluctance, it will be a burden inexpressibly painful. To gain life, we must bear our cross. Our chafing under its weight only renders us less able to sustain it.
To become unselfish and humble runs directly against our natural instincts. To put others ahead of ourselves is contrary to the innate sense of survival. God will have to chasten us to learn such lessons which means trial must be a part of our lives. But why should we hope to avoid that from which no human has been exempt? Who among the patriarchs accomplished his pilgrimage without adversity? Even the Lord Jesus had to suffer to become perfect.
Therefore let us hold fast to our profession and learn to be absorbed in God and the needs of others rather than in ourselves.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One