In 2013, the word “selfie” was officially added to the dictionary. The practice of taking one’s own picture—and the obligatory posting on social media—has become commonplace. This is a commentary on the prevalence of selfishness in our society. I don’t mean to say that it’s necessarily wrong to take a selfie, just that it seems to be quite overdone.

Hugh Hefner could have been the poster boy for selfishness. America’s most famous playboy spent his entire life chasing pleasure. Hefner once wrote, “We reject any philosophy which holds that a man must deny himself for others.”

Hefner’s position stood in stark contrast to what Jesus taught. In Matt.16:24-26, we read, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?’”

I believe it was Colonel Sanders, of KFC fame, who once asked the question, “What good is it to be the richest person in the cemetery?” This is pretty much the same question that Jesus asks.

What Jesus teaches about self-denial is the exact opposite of the selfish human nature that was epitomized in the life of Hugh Hefner, the human nature that we all must work hard to resist.

One of the first words that a baby learns is “Mine!” It is quite natural for us to try to attain things that will give us pleasure, even if it is to the detriment of those around us. We must constantly battle against our selfish human nature, rather than give in to it like Hefner proposed.

We must trust that Jesus knows what is best for us and that our ultimate fulfillment in life—and our reward in the next life—will be based on our willingness to practice self-denial. Those who forsake the pursuit of selfish pleasure in order to worship God and serve others will experience a blessing far beyond what hedonistic people can ever know.