Meet Taylor Turner

Have you ever heard the term me monster used to describe someone? It comes from a comedy skit by Brian Regan where he describes some characters we have all encountered before: those constantly talking about themselves; and when not having the floor in the conversation, impatiently waiting for the speaker to finish so they can talk again. The unattractive characteristic he is describing here is nothing other than selfishness.

Selfishness comes naturally to us. Think back to the Fall in Genesis 3 when Eve decided to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to fulfill her desire to be wise (Genesis 3:6). She had received clear instruction not to eat of the tree, but out of her selfish desire, she did. Scripture tells us that desire (selfishness) is innate. Scripture also tells us that desire can lead to death. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15, emphasis added)

So how do we combat the death that our sinful, selfish nature produces? Paul repeats two specific commands in this passage that will guide us in turning our selfishness into selflessness.

1. Love must be genuine. (Romans 12:9)
2. Love one another with brotherly affection. (Romans 12:10)

How appropriate that the second greatest commandment Jesus gave us is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39b) If we genuinely love one another with brotherly affection, we are opposing our greedy nature. Love cannot be selfish, or it is not true love. True Love died for us on a cross that we deserved because of His genuine love for us. So, friends, let us count others more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3) to defeat the me monster that lives inside us all.