Self-Centeredness, Cause and Effect
After a life time of living in ‘survival mode, we can become severely self-centered.

We may be this way simply because we’ve separated ourselves from normal relationships because of our addictions. We’ve had to fend for ourselves by choice and we did so simply to continue in our own sickness.

Or, we may have been hurt and have been forced to rely on ourselves for fear of being hurt again.

Whatever our reason for having a self absorbed, self serving anti social view of the world, it’s not healthy and it’s destructive. Not so much for those that you turn away from, but ourselves.

In most cases these self-centered behaviors are caused by a lack of self esteem.

And in every case, the effect is a continued state of separation from those that love us, those that care about us and those that care for us.
So these are the effects,

Self-centeredness brings about false pride.
2 Timothy 3:2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. 4They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.

Self-centeredness brings about prejudice,
James 2: 2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting[a] dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? 5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?

Self-centeredness brings about hatred,
Leviticus 19:17 “Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin. 18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Those are effects, but praise God, we can reverse this trend.

We have been called to freedom from the cause and effects of self-centeredness. We can be free.

13-Gal.5.18" class="scriptRef">Galatians 5:13-18, 13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

By God’s grace, and thought redemption we have in Christ Jesus we are guided by His Holy Spirit. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.

Be free, let go of yourself and be free.