Unto All Men by O. P. WILSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Feb 25, 1915

“Unto All Men”

By O. P. WILSON

O. P. WILSON

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6: 10.

THERE are many ways in which we may do good to our fellow men. The preceding quotation from Paul’s letter to the Galatian brethren is, to my mind, a counterpart of the golden rule, given by Christ in his Sermon on the Mount: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matt. 7: 12. What is more beautiful to see than a family, a church, a school, in which all the members live in harmony with the golden rule, each loving the others as himself? Yet in the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists, as it was among the Jews, there sometimes arises the question, “Who is my neighbor?” This often causes much dispute, and we, too, sometimes regard as strangers and enemies those not of our faith.

The parable of the good Samaritan teaches a lesson to all who are troubled concerning how to treat their fellow men. “They [the Jews] had no doubt as to the heathen and the Samaritans. These were strangers and enemies. But where should the distinction be made among the people of their own nation, and among the different classes of society? Whom should the priest, the rabbi, the elder, regard as neighbor? They spent their lives in a round of ceremonies to make themselves pure. Contact with the ignorant and careless multitude, they taught, would cause defilement that would require wearisome effort to remove. Were they to regard the ‘unclean’ as neighbors? “This question Christ answered in the parable of the good Samaritan. He showed that our neighbor does not mean merely one of the church or faith to which we belong. It has no reference to race, color, or class distinction. Our neighbor is every person who needs our help. Our neighbor is every soul who is wounded and bruised by the adversary. Our neighbor is every one who is the property of God.”—“Christ’s Object Lessons,” page 376.

The Bible points out not only numberless duties which it is well for us to perform, but also several things we should not do. The apostle Paul says: “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Rom. 12: 17, 18. In another place he says that we are to “owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.” Chap. 13: 8. Now to owe a man does not mean money merely. To love one another means that we “render . . . to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor;” and we might add to this, a right example and a Christian influence.

There is much to be said about our daily walk, or our example, for we are our brother’s keeper. “Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.” Rom. 13: 13. “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.” “We have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” In such a house, members are not regarded as strangers and foreigners, but as brethren. Instead of addressing one another as Mr., Miss, or Mrs. —, they will say Brother or Sister —. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, said: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. . . . In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” Eph. 2: 19–21.

If God’s people are to be “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, . . . built upon the foundation,” and growing into an holy temple, “fitly framed together,” they will be far from following the ways of the world. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2: 15. Conformity to the standards and customs of the unbelieving will not help our fellow men; and what is more true, it will be a dishonor to them who are of the household of faith. Union with the world may appear at first in little and apparently innocent things. These innocent (?) little things may be in our dress, our talk, or our dealings with men. The uttering of one careless word, the wearing of a ring, a pin, or of feathers on our hats, may cause some of our brethren or sisters to doubt our sincerity, and later determine their destiny. It may be that a minister of the gospel, a teacher, a Bible worker, or an editor of one of our papers, while departing from the simplicity of dress which should characterize the children of God, does not realize that these little (?) things are an index to his character, or that his influence is “unto all men.” Nevertheless it is; else why would the apostle have said when writing to the Thessalonian brethren, “Abstain from all appearance of evil”? To be popular may be up-to-date; but it is the worldly element, both inside and outside the church, who love such popularity.

Loyalty to the church is loyalty to God; and when popularity, display, and fashion come into the church, God is dishonored. It matters not whether we are farmers, or teachers, or preachers, we are as one man in the church of Christ. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye are all one man in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3: 27, 28. Christ prayed that all his people be one, even as he and his Father are one. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17: 20, 21.

In the light of the teachings of Christ and the apostles, can any of us say that we live unto ourselves? “Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.” 1 Cor. 3: 18. Our Saviour has warned us against empty honor and worldly titles. “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. . . . Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” Matt. 23: 8, 10. “Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not;” for that is not doing good “unto all men.” “If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.” Col. 3: 1.