The Self-Centered Soul!

May 28, 2026

The Self-Centered Soul!

It is surprising how self-centered and self-serving we can become when we are convinced there is not enough. 

+Maybe we have convinced ourselves there is not enough love so we manipulate other people to get more love. 

+Maybe we have convinced ourselves there is not enough praise so we seek the affirmation of other people in unhealthy ways. 

+Maybe we have convinced ourselves there is not enough friendship so we cross healthy boundaries with the hope of having more friends.

Although most of us may not have experienced what it is like to not have enough food, it does happen to far too many adults and children every day in the communities where we live.  It happened on a hillside outside of town where people had gathered to hear Jesus speak about spiritual things.

Over 5,000 people had gathered for the talk that day.  The talk was so intriguing that people sat right through lunch-time.  As the afternoon began to reach toward evening, people began to get restless; they were hungry. 

One of Jesus’ disciples tells Jesus the people are hungry.  The disciples had already evaluated the situation.  There seems to be no food available and they are too far from town to get anything to eat in a reasonable time.

I encourage you to take some time right now to John 6:1-14.

After a bit more research, a disciple named Andrew finds a boy who has five loaves of bread and two fish.  He presents his discovery to Jesus along with his conclusion; it’s not enough!  In John 6:8-9 we hear; “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.  But what are they among so many people?’”

The self-centered soul always believes there is not enough. 

+The self-centered soul is ruled by fear; the fear of too little, the fear of running out, the fear of falling short. 

+The self-centered soul is ruled by anxiety; I will never be good enough, I will never be strong enough, I will never be smart enough.

+The self-centered soul is ruled by fretfulness; it will not come in time, it will not be enough, it will never work.

Andrew can only find one young boy who has any food he is willing to share.  There is the rub; is it possible that most of the people had something to eat but not something to share.  I wonder if the crowd was struggling with self-centeredness.      

Look what happens next.  In John 6:11-12 we hear; “Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.”  When they were satisfied…”  The people received everything they needed as a gift from the Lord until each was satisfied.

A little generosity shifts their self-centered souls to be Christ-centered and other-centered.  The shift in soul-focus made it possible that every person was satisfied.  On that day, the shift from a soul that was self-centered to a soul that was Christ-centered and other-centered brought an abundance of peace, joy, faith, and love…and a full stomach! 

+A self-centered soul gets in the way of trusting Jesus with all of our heart, soul, mind, and body.

+A self-centered soul gets in the way of helping other people.

+A self-centered soul gets in the way of trusting the Lord God will provide.

+A self-centered soul gets in the way of serving those who do not have enough.

+A self-centered soul gets in the way of generosity.

+A self-centered soul gets in the way of giving thanks to other people and to the Lord God.

When we shift from a self-centered soul to a Christ-centered and other-centered soul, our heart will fill with delight in the goodness and greatness and grace of the Lord God.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug