Self-Denial by Millie E. Steele

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 5, 1911

Self-Denial

By Millie E. Steele

MILLIE E. STEELE

The history of the early Jews is one that should be of great interest and profit to God's remnant people. We should read it carefully and often, for “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.” We see in their history that when Israel walked with God, they received blessings in abundance and were prospered; but as soon as they ceased to follow him, they fell into all kinds of sin, even to the setting up of false gods.

There are many ways of establishing false gods other than to worship visible idols. So much has already been written by the spirit of prophecy in regard to these things that it seems needless to write more; but like children we soon forget. It seems so much easier to walk by sight than by faith, and the world offers many attractions intensely exciting.

After God had given to his people so many and such perfect laws for their guidance, they were not long satisfied. Seeing the heathen nations around them apparently happy and prosperous in spite of their wickedness, they desired to be like them, and asked God to give them a visible king, as they had wearied of following one whom they could not see. We see in this the beginning of their downfall. Satan is very clever, and as soon as he sees the slightest opportunity, he slips in almost before we know it, and instead of following the Lord closely, like Peter we follow afar off, and sometimes even deny him. Jesus left his home in glory to come to this world to die an ignominious death for us. Can we comprehend so great a sacrifice? When we listen to the accounts of returned missionaries—what they tell us of the conditions they encounter, what they have had to renounce in the way of earthly comforts—and compare these with the glories of heaven, we can have only the faintest idea of what Christ sacrificed for us. How to pay the great debt we owe is the thought that should have precedence in our minds.

We think many times we are very self-denying, but are we really so? Could we not make even greater sacrifices without inconveniencing ourselves greatly? Think of the young African girl who, having no other way to make a gift to the Lord according to her sense of gratitude, sold herself to a life of slavery. How many of us feel our debt so keenly that we would do likewise, or do a thing equivalent? Do we really love the Lord with all our might, mind, and strength? What a good thing it might be for us to keep a self-denial box in a very conspicuous place, and when we are tempted to buy superfluous ribbons, laces, useless adornings, to take frequent excursions, make fudge several times a week, or to buy ice-cream several times a day, to think of those whom we could help with a little self-denial, and ask ourselves, “Would Christ do so? Which would glorify him?” Perhaps we might be led to see that these things are not really so indispensable as they seem. They may appear to be trifles, but the savings that would accrue from them would increase the funds for missions in an astonishing manner. “It will take all to buy the field.” Do we desire to remain here forever in this vale of tears? If not, let us rally around the standard, and make the Lord's work the principal object of our lives. If we do not do our part faithfully, the Lord will raise up others more worthy, and we shall lose our crowns. The work must be done in this generation, and we see unmistakable evidences that it will be done.

Many of us not only have all the comforts of life, but the luxuries as well. The prophet Haggai says: “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.” Is it a little thing to speak with our lips what our actions deny? If we really believe that the Lord will come in this generation, let us live with that as an ever-present thought. In sacred history we have no record of Christ's ever allowing himself anything but meager necessities. His Father's business was the thing that was before all others, and the same power that sustained him will sustain us. Let us prove it. Is the servant greater than the Master? If we would be more self-denying, perhaps we should not so frequently hear of missionaries returning because of unhygienic surroundings, thereby causing large expenditures, and also retarding the work. O self, self, self! when will it be “not I, but Christ”? When shall we separate ourselves from these things that we may be true sons and daughters of God? When the Macedonian cry is continually sounding, can any one hear it unmoved?—Not if he has any personal knowledge of foreign missions. Let us not put our treasures into bags with holes; but let it be the principal object of our lives, the delight of our hearts, to point to Christ so clearly that those who would see Jesus will have only to look in the direction our whole being is pointing. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?”

Mayaguez, Porto Rico.