We have observed that individuals consumed by their own pleasures and interests often compel others to yield to their desires. They appear to gain all they seek, yet remain perpetually dissatisfied, missing true happiness. This self-centered nature, fueled by society from childhood, grows more dominant with age, ignoring God's command to honor parents and instead fostering spoiled, selfish beings. Selfishness manifests as a mechanism of self-preservation, seen in hoarding and disregarding others' rights, neglecting the needy, and showing heartless indifference. It appears as self-love, self-seeking, and selfish ambition, especially in the last days, where some focus only on what more they can gain, ignoring what they receive. This excessive concern with one's own welfare, with little or none for others, defines a self-centered, self-absorbed, and self-serving person. God has woven natural consequences into His law for such behavior, leading to poverty, sin, and spiritual loss. Overcoming selfishness requires yielding to the Holy Spirit, though human resistance often allows selfishness to prevail. In contrast, unselfishness, the way of outgoing concern, is exemplified by those who seek the good of others and put Christ first, manifesting true Christian love that suffers long, is kind, and does not seek its own.

When things go wrong, many indulge in loneliness or despair, sinking into a melancholy mindset that distorts their thinking, seeing, and feeling. Those who wallow in self-pity feed their sadness, becoming dependent on despondency for a sick sort of comfort. When times get hard, such individuals curl up in apathy and self-pity, failing to see God at work in their lives. In contrast, the faithful patiently wait, trusting God to make things right in His perfect time, understanding that He always has their best and eternal interests at heart. Self-pity is self-indulgently dwelling on one's own sorrows or trials, unlike pity, which is a tender feeling for another in distress. Self-pity involves lying to oneself, often saying that suffering for one's own sins is undeserved, and it is incurable without repentance. It differs from godly sorrow, which produces repentance, while self-pity involves no such change of heart. It is a natural human tendency to respond to life's difficulties with self-pity, feeling that suffering is unjust. This reaction shows faithlessness, as seen when individuals plead for exemption from responsibilities or lack mercy for others due to their own sorrows. Self-pity can fatigue and erode attitudes by presuming outcomes, focusing on personal problems, and leading to physical exhaustion. To combat self-pity, one must pray for God's help, rest, find a new focus, repent of sins, and take obedient action. Genuine repentance and a clear view of one's true condition, rather than a distorted one, are essential in fighting this mindset. God commands action based on obedience rather than inaction driven by emotions. The ultimate cure for self-pity lies in selflessness, caring for others' welfare more than one's own. This excessive love of self interferes with God's development of righteous character. Outgoing concern and love toward others counteract self-pity, demonstrating a willingness to lay down one's life for friends. How one handles life's pressures determines whether they lead to self-pity or to overcoming, and following Jesus Christ's selfless example enables victory over this struggle.