H. J. FARMAN by H. J. FARMAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 13, 1906

H. J. FARMAN

By H. J. FARMAN

Our Greatest Needs—No. 3

H. J. FARMAN

The greatest of gifts, says the apostle, “is love.” This has been revealed to us by the Father through the Son, “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “Love is of God; . . . for God is love.” 1 John 4:7, 8. Therefore he who truly loves, “is begotten of God, and knoweth God.” And why?—Because he partakes of the character of God.

True love freed from all selfishness, is the most desirable trait of character that one can possess, for it is the most godlike; it is that which can not be resisted. It may be repulsed; it may be ignored; but finally it wins, as in the case of the apostle Paul, who “before was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious,” but later said, “The love of Christ constraineth us.”

Love led the Saviour to give up his own life for a world lost in sin, “having no hope and without God in the world,” weak and ungodly sinners. Eph. 2:11, 12; Rom. 5:6-8. This he did because in so doing he saw their future happiness, and in this he gloried. Isa. 53:11. “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” “A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.” Isa. 42:3, 4.

This blessed fact is clearly made known in the attitude of the father toward the prodigal son. Although a wanderer, a squanderer of his goods, a riotous liver, and worse than all, a complainer and murmurer against his father's kindness, yet the moment he began to feel his own unworthiness and sinfulness, the father saw him a great way off, “and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. . . . But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” Luke 15:11-24. You will notice the difference in the father's love and that of the Pharisee. Verses 25-30. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so Jehovah pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Ps. 103:13.

That degree of the love of God which we possess, is best seen by our love one to another as Christians, and as brethren in the remnant church. Christ says: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 13:34. It is by this experience in our lives that we show to the world that we are Christians. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Verse 35.

The true measuring rod of our love is not in word, neither with tongue, “but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18), and that we love our neighbor as ourself. This is the fulness of the love of God revealed according to the law. Matt. 22:36-40; Rom. 13:8-10.

There are some very plain texts of Scripture concerning brotherly love which we all need carefully to consider and obey; to neglect means death. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, can not love God whom he hath not seen.” 1 John 4:20. “And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.” Verse 21. “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” Gal. 5:15.

These are very solemn words, and mean much to us as a people. There is probably no other people on the earth to-day that the devil tries so hard on this point as he does Seventh-day Adventists. We are told by the spirit of prophecy “that brethren do not love brethren.” How often this is found to be true! For some trivial offense, or perhaps a real offense, brethren become alienated and so separated in their feelings that they can hardly say a good word for each other. Sometimes a brother or sister is made an offender for a word unwisely spoken, and out of it grow the most bitter feelings. “My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter? can a fig-tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? neither can salt water yield sweet.” James 3:10-12. To the writer's mind there is some real cause for this, and doubtless the first cause is a lack of conversion and consecration, and a second is a supreme love for one's self, a third and very widespread cause is love for office. I doubt whether a greater cause than the third exists among us. It is first seen in the home, then in the church, and finally in the conference. No more dangerous responsibility can be laid upon any one than office, and this is spoken of in connection with the work of the ministry: “Not a novice [one newly come to the faith], lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” 1 Tim. 3:6; see also chapter 6:1-5.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every evil deed. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.” James 3:13-18. Let every one cultivate the wisdom that is from above, and all will be well.