Korach was a remarkable person. He came from a distinguished family, was intelligent, and had tremendous spiritual potential. So how could he accuse Moshe of being power-hungry when the Torah itself describes Moshe as the most humble person on earth?
The Torah gives us a clue at the very beginning of the story: “Korach took.” What did he take? Korach was a taker. He already had tremendous privilege as a member of the tribe of Levi, but it wasn't enough. He wanted more honor, more power, and a more prominent position.
When a person becomes consumed by a personal desire, it can actually distort his ability to think rationally. Korach was so focused on obtaining honor that he convinced himself that Moshe—of all people—was seeking power for himself.
There are two types of people: takers and givers. A taker is constantly asking, “What more can I get?” A giver is constantly asking, “What more can I do for someone else?”
The way to protect ourselves from becoming consumed by our own desires is to practice being givers. The more we focus on helping others, the less consumed we become with ourselves.
Sometimes, the best way to overcome selfishness is simply to start giving.