“The ‘Look Out For Number One’ Syndrome”

1. The syndrome defined:

Mark 10:35 “we want you to do for us whatever we ask”.
9:33-34 “they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest”. (All of the twelve were affected)
Philippians 2:19:-21 “For all seek their own , not the things which are of Christ Jesus”. (Many of the early Christians were affected also.)

3. The symptoms:

a. The desire to be first. ( “Whoever of you desires to be first”, Mark 10:44)
b. The desire to be served instead of the desire to serve. (“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve”, Mark 10:45).

4. The effects of the syndrome:

a. Conflicts with others. (“they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest”, Mark 9:34; “they began to be greatly displeased with James and John”, 10:41)
b. Unstableness. (Acts 13:13, “Now when Paul and his party set sail.... John departing from them, returned to Jerusalem”. When they began the journey Mark’s cousin, Barnabas, was in charge. When Paul took charge he was offended and went home.)

5. The remedy:

a. Recognize it as a sin problem and deal with it as such. (1 John 1:9)
b. Follow Christ’s example. (He came to serve and to give His life a ransom for many, Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:5-8).