In my previous post, I mentioned that a self-centered life is the most difficult obstacle to live a life that pleases God.

In Genesis 15, we learned through the life story of Abraham that God wants us to live our lives centered on him by viewing him as our ultimate reality, by living in faith, and by basing our lives on his covenant. However, to live a life that pleases God is not easy. There is this constant battle to do things in our way. This is an old temptation that both Adam and Eve did in paradise. This is the same action that we see in the case of Sarai, Abraham, and Hagar in Genesis chapter 16.

This story was important for the Jews of Moses' time. After receiving constant reminders from Moses, the people insisted on doing their own thing. Despite the great miracles they saw, in times of difficulties in their journey, they acted as if they no longer believed that God listens to their prayer and sees their actions.

In this article, we will see how the above three characteristics of a self-centered life are displayed in the lives of the characters in our story. As we read this story, let us also reflect on the present status of our walk in Christ.

A self-centered life does its own thing.

In verse 2, Sarai says to Abram:

Go, sleep with my maidservant, perhaps I can build a family through her.

Sarai was not certain that this idea was correct. I wonder if she asked God about this. Even Abraham himself was not sure that his wife's suggestion was directly from God. He agreed with his wife's idea. Did Abram consult God before agreeing to his wife? I think he didn't.

Perhaps, both Abram and Sarai were becoming impatient in waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise. They already waited for ten years. Perhaps, they thought, it's now time to "help" God fulfill his promise to them.

As a result of this action, problems within the family arose. Before, there was harmony and peace. But now, there was blaming and maltreatment. The results tell us that both the actions of Abram and Sarai were wrong in trying to help God fulfill his promise of a son.

This story shows one basic human flaw, to do our own thing when things are not going as we expect. This action is a product not of God-centeredness, but of self-centeredness.

How many of our actions are motivated by self instead of God? Let us take marriage as an example. How many people decide to marry to please God? There is no way we can know. However, experience and results of most marriages tell us that usually, people do not consult God, but decide only based on their interest. And mostly people decide based on physical attraction, material advancement, and other self-considerations. I doubt if the service of God has even entered the minds of most singles when they decide to get married.

A self-centered life no longer believes that God hears prayers.

As a result of maltreatment, we see Hagar fleeing from her mistress. God knew that Hagar was going nowhere, and certainly, she and her son would soon be placed in great danger if God had not intervened. And so we see the angel of God found Hagar near a spring in the desert and asked her where she came from and where is she going. And then the angel told Hagar to return and submit to her mistress. The angel assured Hagar that the Lord had heard her misery. This is an important lesson that both the characters in our story and the generation of Moses had forgotten, that God still listens to the prayers of his people.

The reason why a self-centered person no longer consults God for his actions is because he no longer believes that God listens to his prayers. As a result of such unbelief, he decides to take matters into his own hands. The problem with this kind of approach in life is that instead of making your situation better, you make it worse. It is as if you are already inside a hole, and instead of waiting for God's deliverance out of the hole, you start digging and making your hole deeper in your search for a way out of the hole.

And many people these days are just like that. They no longer ask themselves where they have come from and where they are going. And even the idea of returning to God appears nonsense to them. They think that they can manage their lives on their own.

I hope and pray that no matter how difficult your circumstances are, you will not come to the point where you will no longer believe God listens to your prayers. The fact is, God still listens. It is just that now is not yet the time to receive your answer. God has his own time. Perhaps, God wants to see his Son form in you before he will grant your request so that when you receive the gifts that you have been asking you will never forget the One who gives.

A self-centered life no longer believes that God sees.

Another important lesson that we learn in this story besides the fact that God hears our prayers, is that God sees our situation. He knows where you are. He knows your difficulties. He knows all your problems and all your struggles in life. And since nothing is hidden from the sight of God, it is He alone who can provide the solution to all your problems and the strength that you need to overcome all your struggles.

Both Abram and Sarai have forgotten this fact. Due to long years of waiting, perhaps they thought that God had forgotten his promise. But God used Hagar despite human mistakes to bring this lesson back to Abraham and Sarai. We learned this by the way Hagar gave the name to the Lord who spoke to her:

'You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me.'

Abraham and Sarai needed this message. The generation of Moses also needed this message. And so do you and I.

Conclusion

A self-centered life does its own thing, it no longer believes that God hears and that God sees. This kind of action prompted by unbelief leads to a miserable life. God wants us to live a life that is centered on him, keeps on believing that he listens to our prayers and he sees our situation and all our struggles. If ever there is a time that you doubt that God listens and knows your situation, just look back to what he is willing to give to deliver you from a self-centered life. He gave his Son to die on the cross for you to stop living for yourself, and start living for Him!

Grace and Peace!