The great idol!

(John Angell James, "Christian Love" 1828)

"People will be lovers of themselves." 2 Timothy 3:2

Selfishness is the cause of all sin--the opposite of all
holiness and virtue.

The essence of man's sin, the sum of his moral depravity,
is to love himself supremely; to seek himself finally and
exclusively; to make self, in one shape or another, the
center to which all his busy thoughts, anxious cares and
diligent pursuits, constantly tend.

Self-love is the most active and reigning principle in fallen
nature! SELF is the great idol which mankind are naturally
disposed to worship; and selfishness the grand interest to
which they are devotedly attached!

Selfishness is contrary to the habitual temper of our Lord
Jesus Christ. "For even Christ did not please Himself."

The perfection of all virtue lies in unselfish love. The nearer
we approach to this state of mind, the nearer we come to
sinless moral excellence. "Love is not self-seeking."

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
 humility consider others better than yourselves." Phil. 2:3