Love That Breaks the Chains of Selfishness | Jonathan Edwards

Deep Dive into Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards - The Spirit of Charity the Opposite of a Selfish SpiritIn his examination of the apostle Paul’s statement that charity seeketh not her own, Jonathan Edwards argues that Christian love is fundamentally the opposite of a selfish spirit. He explains that the fall of man caused the human soul to shrink from a noble, expansive state into a narrow condition totally governed by selfishness. However, the gospel and the cross of Christ restore the soul to its originally generous and divine principles.Edwards clarifies that Christian charity is not opposed to all forms of self-love. The desire for one's own happiness is an essential part of human nature, shared equally by saints, sinners, and angels. Instead, selfishness is an inordinate self-love. This inordinateness does not mean loving happiness too much in absolute terms, but rather that self-love becomes disproportionately large compared to one's love for God and others. Furthermore, a selfish person places their happiness in private, confined interests that exclude other people. In contrast, a person with a Christian spirit expands their sense of self so that they find their own happiness in the well-being of others and the glory of God.The spirit of charity actively seeks the things of others, demonstrating a sympathetic, merciful, and public-spirited attitude. True divine love is a supernatural plant placed in the soul by the Holy Spirit, enabling individuals to love God for His own sake and to love others, even enemies, as Christ loved us. Ultimately, because humans are created and redeemed by God, they are not their own. By sacrificing selfish interests for God and fellow creatures, individuals take the surest path to securing their own highest happiness, as God takes charge of their eternal welfare.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730