The heart, as described in Jeremiah 17:9, is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, revealing a nature that is incurably self-centered and narcissistic. This self-absorption stands in direct opposition to the two great commandments to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love others as ourselves. The deceitful heart cannot consistently obey these commandments, rendering it impossible to build character of value to God's kingdom. In II Timothy 3:1-5, Paul warns of perilous times in the last days, listing nineteen characteristics that stem from the heart's self-love, beginning with men being lovers of their own selves. This primary trait of self-absorption narrows perception, limits judgment, and fosters harshness toward others. It includes narcissism, an overriding preoccupation with self that warps one's sense of value, judging everything by feelings and driving a need for control, praise, and flattery. Self-love is identified as the fundamental sin, the source of all others, substituting sinful man for God and destroying divine and human relationships by making one's will the center of life. This self-concern manifests in various forms such as covetousness, a drive to accumulate through greed, often leading to a loss of proportion in valuing relationships over material desires. Boasting emerges as a natural outgrowth of self-centeredness, where individuals turn conversations to focus on themselves, oblivious to others' needs. Pride, another expression, shows itself in arrogance and sarcasm, aggressively putting others down while resisting submission to God and fellow humans. Blasphemy follows pride, insulting both God and man through speech, including sarcastic put-downs. Ingratitude reflects a failure to recognize indebtedness to God and others, rooted in pride that assumes all achievements are self-made. Without natural affection, individuals disregard common norms and family traditions, dissipating even normal family love. Trucebreakers are implacable, relentless, and unforgiving, leading to broken covenants. False accusers, likened to slanderers, deliberately destroy others' reputations through gossip. Incontinence signifies a lack of self-control, resulting in irascible behavior and addictions that harm both self and others. Fierce individuals despise quality, consistently downgrading life's aspects. Traitors are treacherous, untrustworthy in word and friendship. Heady people act recklessly, driven by impulse without considering consequences. High-minded individuals are filled with conceit, lacking humility. Finally, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God prioritize personal interests over devotion to Him, pushing God out of their thoughts entirely. In Revelation 3:14-18, the Laodiceans exemplify this self-absorption within the church, believing they are spiritually rich and in need of nothing, turning their attention back to self-centered interests rather than Christ. Their conduct testifies to a lack of interest in Him, as the deceitful heart regains control, rejecting what He offers. This illustrates the danger of self-concern infiltrating even converted hearts, drawing them back to a life of self-absorption. God, however, provides the spirit of a sound mind, interpreted in some translations as self-discipline, enabling control over human nature to prevent ungodly expressions. The challenge lies in overcoming these instabilities of self-concern through maturity and discipline, addressing life's stresses without succumbing to extreme self-centeredness that leads to mental illness. Tools such as delaying gratification, accepting responsibility, dedication to truth, and balance are essential to solve life's problems and resist the deceitful heart's pull toward self-absorption.

Fear of the unknown arises when people focus on self-love, self-concern, and self-protection. This focus leads to non-love for others and places the self above others. Fearful people become self-absorbed by constantly turning to themselves, looking at themselves, and remaining concerned about themselves. The spirit of love provides the only way to remove self. Absorption in doing good for others leaves no time to think about the self. The spirit of love frees people from self-interest and self-concern along with the anxiety, stress, and depression that arise from them. The spirit of love dispels self at every point. Selfishness opposes genuine concern. Selfishness causes fear by directing attention only to personal gain from serving and obeying God and by creating dread of losing dignity, control, or money. True love, energized by the Spirit, enables sacrifice for others without fear of losing time or money.