Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
Is it selfish to want to live when others are suffering?
Answer:
As a pastor, I've had to grapple with this question many times. In my opinion, it's not selfish to want to live when others are suffering. In fact, the Bible teaches us that we are all connected and that when one member of the body suffers, all members suffer with it (1 Corinthians 12:26). This means that our desire to live and thrive is not necessarily selfish, but rather a natural part of being human. However, I do believe that our desire to live can become selfish if it's motivated by a desire to avoid suffering or to prioritize our own comfort and well-being above all else. This is what the Bible means by "selfishness" - not a desire to live and thrive, but a desire to live at the expense of others. When we prioritize our own needs and desires above the needs and well-being of others, we are being selfish. But when we want to live and thrive because we know that we are loved and valued by God, and that our lives have purpose and meaning, then that's not selfishness. In fact, it's the opposite - it's a desire to live and serve others, to make the most of the time we have and to use our gifts and talents to bring glory to God. As the Bible says, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).
Sources:
christian theology
millard erickson
systematic theology
wayne grudem
mere christianity
c s lewis
reasonable faith
william lane craig
my utmost for his highest
oswald chambers
gods crime scene
j warner wallace
job
francis andersen
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