Who’s the Selfish One?

Who’s the Selfish One?

By Cyndi Rowland

June 14, 2013

Have you ever been so caught up in self that you missed an opportunity to witness, to comfort someone in need, or pray for someone who is hell bound? Once that moment is gone, it is gone forever. You can never get it back and the consequences can be eternal for the person GOD put in your path.


I am about to confess my sin in the prayer that others will learn from my mistake. (Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.. James 5:16 KJV)


The other evening someone who is very dear to me ended up in the emergency room with what we thought was a heart attack. They placed him in a private area where he was able to stay calm and they could run tests. After about an hour the nurse came in and told him that they needed the room so he was moved into the hall. This was ok with him and I did not think much of it until about 45 minutes later when the ambulance finally brought in the rooms new occupant. The older, scruffy man was strapped to the gurney and screaming and hollering. As they got him into the room he got louder and more obnoxious, giving the nurses and doctors a difficult time while screaming “I’m being electrocuted!” The louder he got the more resentful I got that Sr. had to give up his privacy just so this man could hoard attention. I decided I needed to get away from it so I went outside for some air. When I returned all was quiet and I did not give the obnoxious man another thought. Sr slept while I watched over him, waiting for any information about his serious condition. It was not long before an orderly asked me to move my chair so they could bring a patient through. I politely obligued, as they brought the sheet covered man out of the room Sr had been asked to leave. This man, whom I thought was being obnoxious and selfish, had died and I was so caught up in being put out that I failed to pray for him or comfort him in any way. It was not this man who was selfish, he was in need, eternal need, and I failed him, I failed my KING.( And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40 KJV). The LORD in HIS mercy and grace warns us about such behavior in Phillipians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every




man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 KJV)





This man was on his way to hell and I stood by and did nothing because I had my focus on self and not on GOD. What if I had prayed? Maybe he would still be alive, ministering to those in need, or maybe he would have still died but would be in heaven instead of hell. It may sound harsh, but I know this man’s blood is on my hands and when I go to the edge of heaven he will recognize me and ask me why? Why I did not tell him, why I did not pray. What would you say? I can only hang my head in shame and ask GOD’s forgiveness, determining to never allow this behavior in me again. So the next time you are faced with a situation where someone is grating on your nerves or your perception says they are being a certain way, stop and think, then PRAY FOR THAT PERSON. It may be their last chance for eternal Life.





PS. What was wrong with Sr? His potassium level was high. Shame on me.