Self Interest

Yitzchak · May 26, 2011

Is it Christian behavior to behave in our own self interests ?

We hear things like "don't let people walk all over you ", "stand up for yourself "

Is it ever the right time to turn the other cheek ?

Is acting in our own self interest just being human ?

Here are two passages which I think relate.

1Co 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
1Co 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

I'm not just speaking of lawsuits and violence here. I mean it as a more general issue.

The thing I was taught is that our attempts at vindication and asserting our rights in a situation are the results of human weakness and not a virtue.

We hear this phrase "it's not fair " quite a bit. It could be a promotion at work or it's our turn in line at the dairy Queen and someone cuts in line or we think our spouse is not being fair about something. Or it could be road rage at unfair driving habits of other drivers.

So is it human weakness that makes us try to get what we think is coming to us. That tries to get what we think is justice ? How does this fit in with our wanting mercy from God ? What about this parable...

Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Recently , I have come into contact with some Christians who think it is a virtue to demand our own way or our rights if the situation is unfair or if the person we are dealing with is a bad guy ( however you define that ). Are we supposed to let the bad guy get away with stuff ?

Is it o.k. to appeal to authority like the boss or the police but not o.k. to take it into our own hands.?

So how about it ? What is the biblical and right way here ?

pdudgeon · May 26, 2011

i think it is not biblical, because we are putting our own judgement and interests above those of God; just backwards from what it should be.

God sees what is done even moreso than we do, and knows the background and motivation of every action. no wrong goes unpunnished, but many are forgiven by Him. Best to wait upon God for action rather than to take it into our own hands.

if we act in our own best interests, then we are no better than those who acted against us.
(and yes, it took many years of being on staff here for me to learn that lesson!)

mrhappy3 · May 26, 2011

I have just been the victim of a stitch up at work.

The Lord told me "KEEP YOUR CHRISTIAN WITNESS AT ALL COSTS"

So I done what I had to do with a good attitude.

I contacted a solicitor, got what I was due, and dropped a claim in courts that I would have won.

I let £20,000 go.

No biggie, they know the Lord reigns in my heart. More important than money.

AudioArtist · May 26, 2011

mrhappy3 said:
I have just been the victim of a stich up at work.

The Lord told me "KEEP YOUR CHRISTIAN WITNESS AT ALL COSTS"

So I done what I had to do with a good attitude.

I contacted a solicitor, got what I was due, and dropped a claim in courts that I would have won.

I let £20,000 go.

No biggie, they know the Lord reigns in my heart. More important than money.

I agree with you.

I was given the same impression by the Holy Spirit recently about a situation in which I was being used by another person in a professional situation. In fact, I felt led to not to even say anything critical about that person to anyone else and to keep a Christian witness throughout it all no matter what.

The amazing thing is, God eventually put His hand of justice on the situation, and I didn't need to say a word. It was incredible to behold! Sometimes God does not do that in this lifetime, but in this situation He acted - and vengeance is HIS. My role was to love the person; His was to enact divine justice or mercy, depending on His judgement.

I must admit, however, that though I did better than I would have done in the past and very much desired to please God, I did slip up at some points and move into the area of gossip. Even if I didn't slander the person, I said more than was needed to others about what that person had done to me in the past. But, I have repented, and we learn over time...

mrhappy3 · May 26, 2011

AudioArtist said:
I agree with you.

I was given the same impression by the Holy Spirit recently about a situation in which I was being used by another person in a professional situation. In fact, I felt led to not to even say anything critical about that person to anyone else and to keep a Christian witness throughout it all no matter what.

The amazing thing is, God eventually put His hand of justice on the situation, and I didn't need to say a word. It was incredible to behold! Sometimes God does not do that in this lifetime, but in this situation He acted - and vengeance is HIS. My role was to love the person; His was to enact divine justice or mercy, depending on His judgement.

I must admit, however, that though I did better than I would have done in the past and very much desired to please God, I did slip up at some points and move into the area of gossip. Even if I didn't slander the person, I said more than was needed to others about what that person had done to me in the past. But, I have repented, and we learn over time...

We sure do, its a case of trial and error until we let him completely take control with our gobs firmly kept shut. (not easy for a salesman like me!).

Yekcidmij · May 27, 2011

Yitzchak said:
Is it Christian behavior to behave in our own self interests ?

It depends. I assume you work (or have worked) and made an income for yourself. That's self interest. I'm sure you've bought things like houses, computers, and cars and I'm sure you've attempted to sell things for a small profit. That's self interest. I'm sure you put your money in a bank account and try to save money and earn interest. That's self interest.

I think it's important to distinguish between rational self interest and selfishness.

Alpine · May 27, 2011

Proverbs 28:6

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

Proverbs 20:10

Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

Proverbs 19:1

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Proverbs 11:3

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Leviticus 19:35-36

“You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

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Self Interest

Yitzchak

יצחק

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pdudgeon

Traditional Catholic

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mrhappy3

Well-Known Member

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AudioArtist

AudioArtist

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mrhappy3

Well-Known Member

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Yekcidmij

Presbyterian, Polymath

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Alpine

Resident Sojourner

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