It’s Not About Us!

The Church at Mesquite

It’s Not About Us!

Proverb 3:1-12


Scriptural Text – Proverb 3:1-12

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. straight

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=pr+3:1&sr=1&t=niv













Scriptural Background

Mostly written by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. Its purpose is to pass on the wisdom that Solomon

received from the Lord (Proverb 1:1-6) Proverb: typically a short, compact statement that

expresses truth about human behavior, and were typically written in a manner that made them easy to remember.


Theme of Chapter 3

Placing trust in the Lord and not in ourselves is wise.

It’s not about us!


It’s Not About Us – Biblical Examples

How many times does the Lord have to remind us that it’s not about us?



We are reminded that it’s not about us in the life of Moses When he argued with God about going to

Pharoah (Exodus 4) “They won’t believe me” (v. 1) “I’m not a good speaker” (v. 10)

11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ?

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=ex+4:11&sr=1&t=niv



We are reminded in the story of Gideon God whittled down Gideon’s army of 230,000 men to 300 1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at

the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, 3 announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.' " So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 4 But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go." 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." 6 Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 7 The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place." -Judges 7:1-7

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=jud+7:1&sr=1&t=niv









We are reminded by Christ 19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do

nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does 30By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. -John 5:19,30

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 27

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. -Matthew 6:25,27,31-33

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=joh+5:19&sr=1&t=niv

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=joh+5:30&sr=1&t=niv

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=mt+6:25&sr=1&t=niv







We are reminded by Paul in his letter to the Galatians 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no

longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. -Gal. 2:20


Why Do We Keep Making It About Us? We have been trained in our culture that the

world revolves around us. Everything is out there for our beckoning, our pleasure, our desire, our satisfaction, our comfort, and our whims.


Why Do We Keep Making It About Us? We have developed Narcissictic attitudes:

personality disorder characterized by: A grandiose sense of self importance A gross need for admiration (control

mechanism) A lack of empathy for others


How can I tell if I’m all about me?

I act as if nothing is more important than my views, thoughts and opinions

When we have discussions, it is important for me to convince you to think like I think, or there’s something wrong with you.

My truth is THE truth.



What I want is more important than what you want or what you need (and its ok for me to use others to get what I need or want).

I can’t get happy for your blessing if I haven’t been blessed.

Sometimes others must be used in order to get what you want and need.



When something goes wrong, or when someone else is angry or hurt or upset, its because of something I did or didn’t do,

If I can control my behavior, we won’t have these problems in the future

If I can do everything perfectly, the relationship will be perfect.



Things just won’t go well if I’m not there. I have to micromanage everything, or it will all fall

apart. It just won’t be the same without me.



I have a hard time seeing things from your point of view.

Your views don’t matter anyway, so why put forth the effort.

The only truth is my truth, so your views are flawed.



I can’t seem to figure out what my purpose in life is.

We have a choice

We can continue to be wrapped up in ourselves By allowing the world to teach us how

important we are By thinking the church is all about us By forcing people to submit to our narcissism

Or, we can become wise and live lives that are completely and totally about the Lord and not ourselves



It’s Not About Us!

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It’s Not About Us!