What is the appropriate balance between self-denial and selfishness in the Christian life?

Answer 1

How about neither? That is one option.

Or you can use the example of Jesus. Yes, Jesus did a lot of preaching and healing. However, there were also many times where he pulled away from others and almost hid. You cannot serve others if you are too worn down to serve others. So you first have to love and take care of yourself before you can take care of others. We are told to be in the world, to be salt and light, but not to be of the world, meaning to not embrace its philosophy and way of doing things.

Or take the boy with the fish. He gave up all he had to feed the crowd and left with a dozen times what he started with.

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The Bible doesn't talk about finding a balance between self denial and selfishness. For Christians the Bible talks about 'walking in the spirit', 'led by the spirit', 'make no provision for the flesh', 'put off the old man put on the new man', 'put to death the deeds of the body', etc