Shiloh Baptist Church

Over the years, I have noticed an increase of a specific trait that has caused tension with the way we (meaning God’s children) live our lives. The act of selfishness has allowed people to ignore others and lose sight of truly loving each other. This trait has been around for years, and to me it is always swept under the rug. It is not something that just dwells in millennials, it happens to everyone. This is an issue that needs to be critiqued now. If we decide to continue to be selfish, we will end up falling short of God’s word, as well as His glory. The act of selfishness is the lack of consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure. Philippians 2:3-4 says “Don’t be selfish, don’t try to impress others. Be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests.” It’s natural for people to care for themselves, but when it’s at the expense of someone who may be in need, and it ends up affecting them negatively is when the line needs to be drawn.

Take David for an example (2 Samuel 11:1-27). One day, David met a woman by the name of Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite. Bathsheba was taking a bath when David noticed her. He sent his messenger to get her. David and Bathsheba grew close. Bathsheba later found out that she was expecting. Bathsheba sent out the message to David, and in return David sent for Uriah the Hittite, which was her husband. David became friends with Uriah and showed his concern for the war that was going on between the Israelite army and the Ammonites. He then encouraged Uriah to go home, but Uriah felt that he should not wine and dine while the war was still going on. David invited Uriah to stay until the next day where he ended up getting Uriah inebriated. This action was not enough to get Uriah to go home. David then wrote a letter to Joab, which Uriah delivered, stating to have Uriah stationed on the front line where the war was the strongest so that way Uriah could be killed. In the end, Uriah was killed alongside other Israelites. When Bathsheba found out that Uriah was killed, she mourned him. While mourning her late husband, David sent out for her and she then became one of his wives. The Lord was not pleased with the actions David took (2 Samuel 11:1-27). It was selfish of David to be with Bathsheba knowing she was married. It was also selfish of him to become friends with Uriah and then have him killed so that way he can become closer to Bathsheba. This is an example of how selfishness has been around for a long time. Avoiding selfishness is not as hard as some people make it out to be.

Selflessness is the concern more with the needs and wishes of others than with one’s own. Being selfless is a trait that everyone should have. Putting others before you should be the way to go for most cases. I say that to say you should always take care of yourself, but if someone that is close to you is in need or seeks encouragement, do not look the other way. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ showed selflessness when He died on the cross for our sins. Most of the fields we work in require us to be selfless, though many of us are not. I say us because I find myself being selfish sometimes. There are plenty of times where I would go to work and say, “I don’t want to be bothered with people and their ‘mess’ today.” Though people come to my job to fulfill their appetites and have a great dining experience. It is an everyday necessity to eat, so I shouldn’t be the one saying that I don’t want to be bothered. “See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). Another important key is to be genuine when you are being selfless. Do not just be selfless cause it is the right thing to do, do it with love and compassion. Also, do not be selfless and look to be rewarded for your selflessness, do it with a pure heart. As Christians, we are supposed to love and care for everyone, regardless of what they have been through or what they are going through.

Submitted by Sis. Michelle Mims

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:1 KJV

     The greatest artist to ever exist is God Himself.  God was the first to employ the basic essence of any artist and that is to make “something out of nothing”.  God showed us the invariable nature of any great artist and that is to take a blank piece of anything or an open space full of nothing and create an awesome masterpiece.  The entire creation is a testimony and stands in awe of God’s masterpiece; “…let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him” (Psalm 33:8 KJV).  God, Himself, examined what He created and said that it was good.  God saw the light and said it was good (Genesis 1:4).  God called the dry land Earth and the gathering together of the waters into Seas and said that it was good (Genesis 1:10).  God created the grass, herbs, and fruit trees and said they were good (Genesis 1:12).  God created the great whales, every living creature that moves, everything that swims and flies and said they were good (Genesis 1:21).  God made all the beast of the earth, cattle, and everything that creepeth on the earth and He said that they were good (Genesis 1:25).  God examined everything that He made and said that it was good (Genesis 1:31).  God says that we all should examine carefully our own work, our own actions, attitudes, and behavior, and then we can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable in and of ourselves, alone, without comparing ourselves or boasting and bragging to others (Galatians 6:4).  We should honestly examine what we have done in life and if it is good to ourselves then move on with the self-satisfaction that we have done something good (for ourselves) no matter what the enemy says or does in their attempt to destroy our self-esteem and self-worth.  Jesus Christ was the first example of the benefits of having good self-esteem.  The Lord gives us self-worth because He says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and by obeying His Word we have a right to prove ourselves to ourselves and we know through the Lord’s commands when we have done right and when we have fallen short of God’s Word, “Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith. Don’t you realize that Christ Jesus is in you? Of course, if you fail the test, he is not in you” (2 Corinthians 13:5 ERV).

     The Apostle Paul says that sin was lurking in the midst of all that beauty that God had created, and sin seized an opportunity through God’s commandment to produce a wrongful desire in men and women to want something that God said we should not have (Romans 7:8).  It was like someone who hated and despised great art throwing paint on the masterpiece in an attempt to destroy it.  The Tree of Eternal Life was in the Garden of Eden and ultimately God would have shared the secrets of eternal life to His children but only by His timing and according to His purpose and His way.  God intended for man to learn understanding by spending time with Him in the garden, not through sinful negative and disobedient experiences (1 Corinthians 14:20).  This truth was a secret even to the invisible forces and powers in God’s creation until Jesus Christ finished his work on earth; “And God gave me the work of telling all people about the plan for his secret truth. That secret truth has been hidden in him since the beginning of time. He is the one who created everything. His purpose was that all the rulers and powers in the heavenly places will now know the many different ways he shows his wisdom. They will know this because of the church. This agrees with the plan God had since the beginning of time. He did what he planned, and he did it through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:9-11 ERV).  

     The amazing part of God’s masterpiece is that He has made a way to eternal life in spite of the enemy’s efforts to destroy it and man’s own disobedience (Proverbs 23:19).  The Lord’s Way is repulsive to the wicked and drives them away (Proverbs 29:27).  God’s people are excited about Jesus’ way to eternal life (Acts 18:25).  Fortunately for those that believe and unfortunately for those that do not believe, Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life (John 14:6).  The Lord did not come to earth to bring peace between His children and Satan’s children (Acts 19:23).  Jesus Christ came with a sword to bring trouble between those that believe in his word and those that are unbelievers in his doctrine; “Do you think I came to give peace to the world? No, I came to divide the world!” (Luke 12:51).  The enemy sows tares or noxious weeds (unbelievers and false doctrines) among the wheat (God’s people) but the Lord allows them to grow together and then His Word will separate out those that are wicked, disobedient, and unbelieving from His people for judgment and ultimate destruction (Matthew 13:24-30).  Jesus Christ’s doctrine separates the chaff from the wheat.  Jesus was the greatest piece of the art of God’s creation.  Miraculously born by a virgin (Isaiah 7:14).  Born in the most inhospitable environment imaginable (Luke 2:7).  Living a perfect life without ever committing a sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Pure, holy, and obedient but physically appealing to no one (Isaiah 53:2).  Humble and innocent but having no home or place to lay his head (Matthew 8:20).  Our Creator was innocent but abused (Matthew 26:67). He was whipped and beaten to a point where he did not even look human anymore (Isaiah 52:14). Even with all of that, in order to allow us access to the tree of eternal life that was once lost to us all, our Lord and Savior was still the masterpiece of the art of His own creation; “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18 KJV).  Ultimately, Jesus Christ was “The Art of the Creation”.

Submitted by Trustee Stanley Ridley

One of God’s primary messages for a family in life is to love. As a Christian, I am marked by 3 distinct aspects that define and highlight this directive in my life which include; marked by love for God’s glory, marked by love for our neighbor’s well-being, and marked by love for personal loyalty (self-respect). The Lord has blessed me with a nurturing family that has been able to let and help the seed of God’s word take root in my life. He has surrounded me with a family who has shown me how to love His way, which has proven to be the ultimate love in every aspect of my life. My family has been one of the most important relationships that God has blessed me with. The inheritance of His word was passed down to me through my family to which I am extremely grateful.  A family is one of the most basic and valuable gifts that God has provided and given to our society. It is the first vision, perspective, and understanding that we are shown of relationship with others.

As in Genesis 1:26 KJV, “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”, one of the first and most powerful things that we learn about our Lord, is relationship. We are shown that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have a pre-existing relationship with each other. Interesting enough but not coincidental, the relationship is one of the first things that we learn and are shown upon being born and placed on earth. These relationships often shape our view of the world, people, and ourselves.

As individuals, we often take for granted the encounters that we have with others while failing to realize how our actions are received and the impact that they may have.  Throughout the New Testament, we are shown how Jesus’ acts of service towards those around him, are an example of how we should love people regardless of their perspective and actions. Christ gives us a living example of what it means to love and how to treat your neighbor. Matthew 22: 39 KJV says, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” and John 13:5 KJV “After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him”. The word “family” stems from the Latin word “famulus” which means “servant”. As believers in Christ, we are shown by our Lord that our lives are meant to be of service. He has placed us in certain situations, hardships, hills, etc. in order to mold our character while strengthening our faith so that He may get the glory in spreading the Word of Christ. A strong family foundation is imperative in helping us build confidence and self-respect in order to fulfill this purpose effectively, with love. God shows us that a family allows you to feel secure; by having people who you can count on, people you can share your problems with, people you can receive direction and accountability, and with people, you can learn to respect.

Today, we see a lack of structure in the family according to the Word of our Lord. In practicality, we also see how these fractures influence the long-term psyche of our children and their decisions in society. Particularly in the African American community, the rates of High School students have the lowest graduation rates from 2017-2018 (“The Condition Of Education – Preprimary, Elementary, And Secondary Education – High School Completion – Public High School Graduation Rates – Indicator May 2019”).

We also see that African American males have the highest homicide rates as of 2019 (“Incarceration Rates Growth Causes”. Prisonpolicy.Org, 2019).

These alarming statistics have tremendously decreased since previous decades but are still among the biggest concerns when evaluating the home structure and well-being of African American children. It speaks to what occurs in not only the home environment but also the surrounding influences. As leaders in the community and those who have had the privilege of being raised and influenced by well-rounded families, it is compulsory that the example be set on what love is while establishing ways on how we can give back to our communities. Opening businesses within the community, mentorships, health and wellness clinics, academic programs, scholarships, investments, etc. are all needed now more than ever. In the age of technology, access to infinite information can play a positive and negative role at the same time. Filtering what children are exposed to has become increasingly hard and oblivion. As we continue to progress as a society, we understand the need for Christ is vital to our well-being regardless of how we feel about it. God’s word continues to prove right and in the most loving ways. Family is the most important in my personal life. God has blessed me with the opportunity to not only receive healthy relationships but also understand what a relationship looks like with Him in the center.

As a Christian, I understand that we are marked by 3 aspects which include: marked by love for our God’s Glory, marked by love for our brother’s well-being, and marked by loving personal loyalty (self-respect). God has placed a hedge around my life while protecting me from society’s influences through my family and I will forever be appreciative. Through countless hills and unfavorable situations, He has managed to keep me close and bless me during obstacles. As I grow as a man, I will continuously pray for brokenness and humility, which will allow me to focus and seek Christ in every waking moment of my life. His love is the ultimate example, the ultimate sacrifice and most beautiful to dwell in.

Submitted By Stanton Ridley