From Self-Centeredness to the Abundance of God's Love

May 29, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: The Contrast Between Self-Centeredness and God-Centeredness

Psalm 36 opens by contrasting the self-absorbed, rebellious heart of humanity with the steadfast love of God. The self-centered life is marked by a lack of reverence for God, self-flattery, and blindness to one’s own sin, leading to a life that is ultimately unsatisfying and empty. In the quiet moments, what surfaces from the heart reveals whether we are plotting our own way or seeking God’s wisdom. The psalm calls us to recognize the folly of living for ourselves and to awaken to the greater reality of God’s presence and love, which alone can satisfy the deepest longings of our soul. [07:40]

Psalm 36:1-4 (ESV)
Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

Reflection: In the quiet moments at the end of your day, what do your thoughts reveal about the true desires of your heart—are you plotting your own way, or seeking God’s wisdom and presence?

Day 2: God’s Steadfast Love Is Our True Refuge

The psalmist paints a vivid picture of God’s steadfast love as a place of refuge and abundance, inviting us to feast on the richness of His presence rather than settling for lesser gifts. God’s love is described as extending to the heavens, His faithfulness reaching the clouds, His righteousness like the mighty mountains, and His judgments as deep as the sea. In His love, we find shelter, satisfaction, and the fountain of life itself. This love is not just a concept but a reality to be experienced, a river of delight that quenches the deepest thirst of our souls. [19:43]

Psalm 36:5-9 (ESV)
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Reflection: Where are you seeking satisfaction and security today—are you settling for God’s gifts, or are you coming to Him to drink deeply from the river of His delights?

Day 3: The Steadfast Love of God Pursues and Holds Us

God’s steadfast love is a covenant kindness that binds Him to His people, overcoming our rebellion and failures. Even when we fall short, His love does not let us go; it is a love that pursues, forgives, and restores. Through Jesus Christ, we see the full expression of this love—He took the penalty of our selfishness to give us the blessing of God’s presence. No matter our failures or hidden struggles, if we are in Christ, we are never cast out. This love is the affirmation and approval our hearts crave, and it is unshakeable and eternal. [27:31]

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Reflection: Is there a failure or hidden struggle in your life that makes you doubt God’s love? How can you rest today in the truth that nothing can separate you from His steadfast love in Christ?

Day 4: We Are Created to Thirst for God Himself

The deepest thirst of the human heart is not for what God can give, but for God Himself. We were made to hunger and thirst for His presence, to find our satisfaction in Him alone. Just as physical thirst drives us to seek water, our spiritual thirst is meant to drive us to the fountain of life that is God. When we try to fill this longing with anything less, we remain unsatisfied. But when we come to God, we find the abundance and delight our souls were created for. [31:30]

Psalm 63:1-3 (ESV)
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally seek God’s presence today, not just His blessings, and express your thirst for Him above all else?

Day 5: God’s Love Is Better Than Life

The psalmist’s declaration is that God’s love is better than life itself—better than dreams fulfilled, better than any earthly gain, better than even the best gifts. This truth calls us to move beyond a claustrophobic, self-absorbed existence and to wake up to the vastness of God’s love. Even when pain or disappointment tempts us to turn inward, we have a protocol: to inform our hearts with the truth of God’s greatness and love, and to declare that His love is what we are created for. [36:04]

Psalm 36:10 (ESV)
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to declare today that God’s love is better than your own plans, dreams, or disappointments? How can you make that declaration real in your heart and actions?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 36 draws a vivid contrast between the self-centeredness of humanity and the steadfast, life-giving love of God. The passage begins by exposing the heart of the wicked—a heart that is in rebellion, that flatters itself, and that has no fear of God. This self-absorption leads to blindness, arrogance, and ultimately a life that is small, claustrophobic, and unsatisfying. Even for those who follow God, it is easy to slip into a pattern where we focus more on what God gives us than on God Himself. We can become like children who are more interested in the gifts their father brings home than in the joy of his presence.

But the psalm takes a dramatic turn, shifting from the darkness of human rebellion to the brilliance of God’s steadfast love. God’s love is described as higher than the heavens, more solid than the mountains, deeper than the ocean, and more precious than anything we could desire. This love is not just a feeling or a fleeting experience—it is a covenant kindness, a binding devotion that God pours out on His people, even when we are undeserving. Through the gospel, we see the fullness of this love: Jesus took the penalty of our selfishness so that we could enjoy the blessing of God’s presence.

We are invited to move from a life that is centered on ourselves to a life that feasts on the abundance of God’s house and drinks from the river of His delights. The greatest treasure is not what God gives, but God Himself. We were created to thirst for Him, to find our refuge in the shadow of His wings, and to be satisfied in His steadfast love. Even when life is painful or disappointing, even when we feel far from God, the truth remains: if we are in Christ, we are the upright, the righteous, and God’s steadfast love continues for us. The call is to come to the altar, to declare that God’s love is better than life, and to ask Him to make that truth real in our hearts.

Key Takeaways

1. The self-centered life is ultimately empty and blind. When we lose the fear of God, we become absorbed with ourselves, unable to see our own faults or the true state of our hearts. This spiritual blindness leads to arrogance and a life that is small and unsatisfying, no matter how much we try to fill it with our own desires. [13:25]
2. God’s steadfast love is the fountain of life, not just His gifts. We are often tempted to seek God for what He can do for us, but the deepest satisfaction comes from seeking God Himself. His love is higher than the heavens, more solid than the mountains, and more inexhaustible than the ocean—He is the true delight our souls were made for. [19:43]
3. The symbols of creation are meant to point us to the greatness of God. The mountains, the sky, the ocean, and even the rainbow are not just beautiful in themselves—they are reminders of God’s power, faithfulness, and covenant love. We must not surrender these symbols to the culture, but reclaim them as signposts to the character of our Creator. [24:20]
4. The gospel reveals the full meaning of God’s steadfast love. In Christ, we are both more sinful than we ever imagined and more loved than we ever dared hope. God’s love is not based on our performance; it is a covenant kindness that remains even when we fail, and it is the only thing that can truly satisfy the deep thirst of our souls. [27:18]
5. When pain and disappointment tempt us to turn inward, we must remind ourselves of God’s truth. The Psalms give us a protocol for informing our hearts: God is great, He is greatly to be praised, and we were created to hunger and thirst for Him. Even when we feel far from God, we can come to the altar and declare that His love is better than life, trusting Him to make that truth real in us. [35:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Celebrating College Scent Initiative
[01:21] - The Strategic Importance of College Ministry
[03:13] - Introducing Psalm 36: The Fountain of God’s Love
[04:53] - Moving from Self-Centeredness to God-Centeredness
[06:33] - The Preciousness of God’s Steadfast Love
[07:17] - Contrasting Human Wickedness and God’s Love
[08:15] - The Language of Rebellion in the Human Heart
[12:05] - The Fear of God vs. Self-Flattery
[14:30] - Reverence, Creation, and Our Smallness
[19:03] - The Dramatic Turn: From Wickedness to God’s Love
[22:40] - Creation as an Index of God’s Character
[25:24] - The Meaning of Steadfast Love
[27:18] - The Gospel and the Affirmation We Crave
[29:39] - Thirsting for God: The River of His Delights
[32:15] - Living Between Selfishness and Satisfaction
[34:06] - The Invitation: From Self to the Abundance of God
[36:29] - Prayer and Response: Declaring God’s Love is Better Than Life
[37:08] - Come to the Altar

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Psalm 36 – The Fountain of God’s Love

Bible Reading

- Psalm 36 (entire chapter, but especially verses 1–9)
- Psalm 63:3 (“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”) [Alluded to in [32:30]]
- Psalm 139:23–24 (“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”) [Alluded to in [32:15]]

Observation Questions

In Psalm 36:1–4, what are some of the characteristics of the “wicked” or self-centered person that the psalmist describes? ([06:33])
According to verses 5–9, how does the psalmist describe God’s steadfast love and faithfulness? What images from creation are used? ([19:16])
What does it mean for people to “feast on the abundance of your house” and “drink from the river of your delights” in verse 8? ([19:28])
In the sermon, what is the dramatic shift that happens between verses 4 and 5, and why is it important? ([19:03])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the psalmist starts by describing the darkness of human rebellion before turning to God’s love? How does this contrast help us understand the message of the psalm? ([07:17])
The sermon says that even believers can slip into focusing more on God’s gifts than on God Himself. Why is this a problem, and how might it show up in someone’s life? ([04:26])
The preacher talks about creation (mountains, sky, ocean, rainbow) as “index symbols” that point us to God’s character. What does it look like to reclaim these symbols as reminders of God’s greatness in our everyday lives? ([24:20])
The sermon says, “Jesus took the penalty of our selfishness to give us the blessing of God’s presence.” How does this truth change the way we see ourselves and our relationship with God? ([34:18])

Application Questions

The sermon describes the self-centered life as “small, claustrophobic, and unsatisfying.” Have you ever experienced this kind of spiritual emptiness? What were the signs, and what helped you move out of it? ([13:25])
The preacher gave the example of children being more interested in the gifts their father brings than in his presence. In what ways do you find yourself seeking God’s gifts more than God Himself? How can you shift your focus this week? ([05:13])
When you look at creation—mountains, sky, ocean, or even a rainbow—do you see them as reminders of God’s love and faithfulness? What is one way you can intentionally use something in creation this week to remind yourself of God’s character? ([24:20])
The sermon says that God’s steadfast love is a “covenant kindness” that remains even when we fail. Is there an area in your life where you struggle to believe God’s love is still for you? What would it look like to bring that to God in prayer? ([27:18])
When life is painful or disappointing, the preacher says it’s easy to turn inward and focus on ourselves. What is one practical step you can take to remind yourself of God’s truth and love during hard times? ([35:34])
The psalmist invites us to “come to the altar” and declare that God’s love is better than life. What would it look like for you to make this declaration real in your heart and actions this week? ([36:41])
The sermon mentions that we are “created to thirst for Him, to find our refuge in the shadow of His wings.” What is one way you can pursue deeper satisfaction in God’s presence this month? ([19:28])

Sermon Clips

“God's love, not just his gifts, not just what he has done, but his abiding presence, his steadfast love, his faithfulness to us, y'all, himself. This is what we are called today in Psalm 36 to feast on and drink from is the love of God.”

“We've got to push today and realize that the greatest treasure, the greatest delight, what we are built to thirst after is not the gifts of God. It's God himself. And that's what we're called to feast upon.”

“When you become a mature believer and yet you're still going to the father and not realizing he is not just the giftgiver, he is the gift. He is our de. The the scripture says better is one day in your course than a thousand elsewhere.”

“Psalm 36 contrasts the love of God with the wickedness of man. The light shines in the darkness. God's love jumps off the page. God's love jumps off the canvas when the background is human wickedness.”

“For the wicked, what speaks to the deepest place in their heart is this transgression, spiritual rebellion, revolt. Says, "There is no fear of God before his eyes, for he flatters himself in his own eyes, that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated."”

“When we don't see his immensity. When we don't understand who he is, what he can do. that he spoke this world in the into existence in in a breath and yet he also wants to have a relationship with us when we can't kind of see him.”

“The fear of God and the flattery of self, they sort of go like this with one another. When we begin to fear God, we see ourselves for who we are. When we don't fear God, we have a very distorted view of ourselves.”

“There is a reverential awe. And when we lose that sense of awe, we don't I don't know about about you guys, being in the mountains, looking at the night sky, looking at the ocean, I love the feeling of how small you realize your life is and your problems are, you know?”

“The wise life is lived in submission to God's governance. That's what it is. We say this all the time about wisdom. You know, wisdom is living life by God's design. It's it's it's saying, God, you are the one who governs and controls.”

“God's kingdom shines against and out of the kingdom of darkness. As I said earlier, Asland's kingdom shines out of the the kingdom of the white witch, right? You get to see the on the canvas of wickedness, you see actually the folly of the first four verses, this the selfishness where it leads.”

“He connects four great attributes of creation to four great attributes of God himself. Now, this is one of the things that we talked about in Psalm 33, but isn't this true? Sometimes God's creation is an index for his character.”

“The steadfast love of God is the loving devotion in which God binds himself to his people. It is that love that overcomes. Even though we are rebellious and run away, even though in our sin we we can run away, there is a steadfast love of God that keeps him hounding after us and he keeps pouring it on.”

“When he what and what when what he did counts for us, we all of the sudden have the affirmation of God Almighty, of the God of the universe. And it is something we can never lose. When the steadfast love of the Old Testament, we see the full fruition of that.”

“How precious is the steadfast love that if you are in Christ, even that thing that nobody else knows about, man, he don't kick you out of the family? You know, one pastor said it like this. The steadfast love of God is like this, okay?”

“The feast of our life, the river we drink from. Y'all, it's more than money. It's more than marriage. It's more than a future. maybe even a future that is looking like it may look different than what you thought it was going to be. These are things that God does and they're in his hands.”

“God is great and he is greatly to be praised. And you and I were created to hunger and thirst for him. And so my my prayer for our church this weekend is that we would come to the altar and we would say things like this to God.”

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