"Build Your Kingdom as mine crumbles . . ." -Over the Ocean

I am selfish.

Yep. Self-ish. I like ish to be about (my) self.

My time is valuable (maybe more so than yours). My feelings are the most important. My opinions are right. My way is best. Why aren’t you catering to what I want and need right now?

I want to write the screenplay, produce the film, direct the shots, and perform in the lead role. Oh, and I expect an Academy Award for my performance. This is about me . . . right?

[Insert annoying buzzer sound that indicates ‘I am wrong’ here.]

Over the last few weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about me. I mean, I’m pretty important to myself you know. We live in a society that celebrates individualism, choice, affluence, and progression. These things are not inherently bad, but our culture does cater to the “me” mentality.


Examples usually help illustrate ideas.:

As I strolled through my super Wal-Mart today, I began to contemplate the me-isms a bit more.
I pass the cosmetics section and see that I have 75 different types of toothpaste to pick from for me. Good thing because I just ran out. Now, do I want cinnamon, mint, baking soda with whitener . . . I make my way to Electronics just to browse, but come to find out the big screen TV I’ve been eyeing is on sale. I could just pull out my credit card and buy it immediately. Why? Why not? After all, I want it. While I’m waiting in line to buy this big screen TV, I might as well throw out a tweet about how little I paid for it and maybe post a picture of the TV with my reflection on the giant black screen onto Facebook via my iphone app. Why? Well, you must have missed the memo because this really is all about me. Not to mention, I’ve been waiting in line for all of 10 minutes because the lady in front of me with the crying baby misplaced her food stamps in her diaper bag, so I’ve got to do something to keep me entertained. Doesn’t she know she’s holding up the line? She’s wasting my time . . . and my time is valuable. Next thing I know, I’m at home attempting in vain to connect the yellow tipped cord to the correct yellow tipped connection point when my friend calls. Naturally, I silence my phone. She can wait. I have things I need to get done. I have my own kingdom to build and the Bachelor to TiVo.

This is a typical day in my life. Ok. Ok. I don’t often buy TVs (ever, actually) or watch the Bachelor . . . but that’s about the only thing in this short illustration that I don’t do. If I substitute something else for the TV, like a pair of patent leather heels in nude from Nine West or even that pack of gum I’ve wanted to try, this day looks pretty accurate (except I am fairly anti-credit cards.). And this doesn’t even touch on the intangibles that fall into my day that revolve around me: my grades, my bank account, the applause I deserve for the killer project I produced at work or pie I made at home. And don’t even get me started on the daily domination of my feelings, my emotional needs, and my opinions.

In a regular day, I think a lot about myself. In a regular day, I think very little about the rest of the world and even less about the people within my own sphere of influence and responsibility. Ouch.


Like Simba triumphantly sang, in Disney’s The Lion King “Oh I just can’t wait to be king!” I am creating a little world through my tiny, daily interactions and choices that is primarily about me. Every day, I lay another brick on the foundation of my kingdom.


BUT (the fateful word). I have given my life to my Creator and Savior. In that moment of surrender, I let go of my rights, laid down my life, and declared that this is no longer about me. My life is about building His kingdom here and now. My life is to mimic the life of Jesus- the Christ- my Savior . . . and His life was about Truth, Grace, Love, and Sacrifice. And we, as believers, are called to live a life worthy of the Gospel message. We are called to lay down our lives for our brothers (1 John 3:16). We are called to sacrifice our preferences, opinions, choices, freedoms, rights, and feelings for the weaker among us (Romans 14:13-21). We are called to give, in abundance, to those in need. We are called to look after orphans, widows, and the monetary and spiritually impoverished within out world (James 1:27). We are called to be the last (Mark 10: 28-29). We are called to bend down to our knees and wash the feet of humanity (John 13). The last time I checked, servants are not rulers over their own kingdoms.

Reflecting on my daily life, I’m reminded that I should spend some time in repentance for the selfish things I do (or lack doing) and prayer that the God who loves me enough to die for me will transform my heart and renew my mind to be fixated on His Kingdom. To help, I’ve spent some time each day slowly praying the prayer Jesus taught his disciples: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done . . . “ Matthew 6: 9-13. It’s about Him- His kingdom, His will, and our dependence on our Abba.


A local band, Over the Ocean, puts it oh so perfectly in one of their songs:

“Build Your Kingdom as mine crumbles . . . “

This is the cry of my selfish heart.


[Check out Over the Ocean. Like em? Donate a couple bills for the creation of their newest album. Go here ASAP! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/overtheocean/be-our-record-label]