Considering all the ways God's people have disrespected him, it might seem appropriate that they flood his altar with tears. But they feel sorry for themselves, not for their sin. They're weeping because they're not getting their way. They're not interested in genuine sacrifice.

Selfishness is powerful. It often stems from not getting something we think we deserve. Sometimes we might even be right about deserving it. Once while I struggled with bitterness, God probed me: "Why not just let it go?" But I thought, "I have the right to be angry." God did not challenge my right to be angry, but he did show me that I didn't need to exercise that right. Justice might allow us to be angry or sad, but selfishness often requires those emotions.

Selfishness easily becomes a habit. Injustices happen to us every day; usually they are small bits of unfairness. As selfishness grows, it becomes increasingly difficult to let any of those things go.

Sacrifice has the opposite effect. As we grow in the ability to sacrifice, we grow to be at peace in a world of injustice. We can let others have even the things they have no right to. We realize that living a sacrificial life is more valuable than anything we might lose to someone else's selfish behavior.

Selfishness or selflessness: which do you show in your life?