Perversion of Spiritual Gifts
By W. A. S.
THERE is nothing more self-deceptive than spiritual pride. This was Lucifer’s error. It is light and blessing turned to darkness; and then “how great is that darkness!” Every power for service is the gift of God. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels,” said the apostle, “that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” The apostle evidently sought never to forget that all that was accomplished by their labors was what God himself “had done with them.” Acts 14:27. The converted heart is humbled by the blessing of God that makes fruitful the effort to help others. In the presence of the manifest working of the power of God, the soul feels like crying out, as did Peter when he saw the miraculous draft of fishes: “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Of David it is written: “And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel: for his kingdom was exalted on high, for his people Israel’s sake.” 1 Chron. 14:2, A. R. V. It was for the sake of the people that God blessed and exalted David. And David’s mistakes were made when he forgot that all the gifts for blessing and service that he possessed were from God. It may be that God has blessed a man in service, and given strong gifts for the upbuilding of his cause. Then sometimes that man has become self-confident, spiritually proud, independent of counsel, has talked, perhaps, of “my message,” with exaggerated ideas of his importance to the work, and his powers for good have been perverted. And then the strong becomes weak, and the counsel of the wise is turned to foolishness. In the earlier days of our work, Elder James White wrote as follows of this peril (REVIEW, Oct. 3, 1854):— It is a lamentable fact that a great portion of those who have had any of the gifts of the Spirit of God bestowed upon them have soon become exalted, and have fallen. Such is the weakness of human nature that God has to bring his people through the furnace of affliction in order to save them. He often withholds his rich blessings from his people, lest they make a wrong use of them and perish. It was necessary that the apostle Paul should have a “thorn in the flesh,” lest “through the abundance of the revelations” he “should be exalted.” It has too often been the case that when the Lord has bestowed any great spiritual blessing or gift upon any of his humble children, the church, instead of carefully watching over them to see that they still keep humble, has heaped upon them compliments and flatteries, which in most cases have exalted and ruined the brightest lights set in the church. If the apostle had not had such an abundance of “visions and revelations of the Lord,” he would not have needed a “thorn in the flesh.” This proves that those on whom Heaven bestows the greatest blessings are most in danger of being “exalted,” and of falling; therefore they need to be exhorted to be humble, and watched over carefully. But how often have such been too apt to drink in the extremely dangerous idea that all their impressions were the direct promptings of the Spirit of the Lord. And how often has it been the case that such have become self-righteous, puffed up, denunciatory, and finally gross fanatics, and the most efficient agents of the devil to scatter wild-fire, and to divide the flock of God. “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. 16:18. A man may have strong gifts as a teacher or an evangelist; but he needs the grace of Christ for daily overcoming, just as much as any one. An apostle or a prophet must keep his sins forgiven and self out of the heart, the same as every other believer. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,” said Paul, “and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” The most conspicuous gifts are no substitute for the grace and spirit of Jesus. “Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” There is no basis for counting the gifts bestowed for the service of the cause of God as personal possessions. The treasure is in earthen vessels, and the excellency is of God. W. A. S.