One Hundred to One by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1905

One Hundred to One

By L. A. S.

THIS ratio of increase represents a success which few enterprises attain. It is certainly a thing worth knowing and worth acting upon, that the greatest enterprise in the world, the one in which we are most interested, and which most concerns the welfare of mankind, may attain even this degree of success. It is within our power to accomplish this great result. Here is the authority for this statement:—

If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tender-hearted and pitiful,—if we would do this, brethren, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one.—Review and Herald, Nov. 16, 1905, page 18.

It seems strange indeed that with the high profession we make we should be so lacking in humility, kindness, and charity that ninety-nine out of every hundred persons that we might reach are turned away from the message God sends to them. What is the trouble? This statement tells:—

Though professing to be converted, we carry around with us a bundle of self that we regard as altogether too precious to be given up.—Id.

“A bundle of self”—that is what does all this tremendous damage. What a deceitful thing is self! “The heart is deceitful above all things.” The one who is carrying this bundle deceives himself, but he does not deceive others. Such is the deceitfulness of self, that the one who is ruled by self is not aware of it; but other people are. They see the bundle of self very plainly. They see a spirit manifested which repels them. The spirit of self is never an attractive spirit. But the spirit of unselfishness is like a fragrance that attracts all who come within its reach. Christians ought to manifest a spirit that attracts people of every belief and class in the world. Such is the spirit of Christ. When he is lifted up, all men are drawn unto him.

Without paying out great sums of money, without establishing great institutions, there is a chance to make the work of this message a hundredfold more efficient than it now is, simply by dropping this bundle of self, and becoming kind and courteous, tender-hearted and pitiful. Is this worth considering? “It is our privilege to lay this burden at the feet of Christ, and in its place take the character and similitude of Christ. The Saviour is waiting for us to do this.” L. A. S.