Selfishness is a Beast

Doing wrong, when we know what is right. Have you ever been in that position? Pilate is infamous for choosing to allow the death of an innocent man - Jesus Christ - even though from his mouth he declared Jesus innocent three times. Pilate allowed the execution of Jesus because he ultimately was most concerned not about what was right, but what was best for himself. He was a selfish man, who protected His job, instead of doing what was right and using His power to protect an innocent man. Now, if we pause, it can be easy for us to smack our lips and throw stones at Pilate. However, are we not the same as him in some ways? Selfishness is a beast that lives in all of us. It doesn’t take too long to think when we in some way have chosen the best for ourselves over loving God or other people, right? The question is, do we have to stay that way? Or was the same person Pilate executed, perhaps the Savior who was ultimate competing God plan to save selfish people, like Herod, you and I?

Is anything worth more than your soul?

Pilate’s story is well known and his place in human history is documented in the most well-read, well-listened to, publication in the world - the Bible. Herod is a good mirror for our souls. Are we like him in any way? If Christ is brought to our metaphorical palace and we are asked by the crowds, “What will YOU do with him?” Do we choose our selfish best over Christ, or will we recognize who the Savor-King Jesus is? Will we see Jesus' innocence as the innocence we need for our sinful lives and ask him for help? You see, the characters in the Bible were real people like you and I. They lived in a different time and place in, but the human heart is the same throughout time. We all want to be selfish kings or queens looking out for our good, our desires, our lives. But Christ came to save us from our selfish pursuits to find identity, forgiveness, and position in Him. Ironically everything Pilate was trying to protect, He ultimately lost because they were temporary positions and identities. Christ offers us eternal innocence, a heavenly position in His family and will give us an eternal palace to call home - the New Heaven and Earth. So, why turn him down? Have you chosen Christ over your own temporary, selfish gain? Jesus said, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?