The Remedy for Selfishness.
By William N. Glenn
PAUL prophesied that a characteristic trait of the people of the last days would be selfishness; and that, on this account, there would be "perilous times." In writing to Timothy, at a time when he knew that he was shortly to be "offered," and the time of his departure was at hand, he uttered this prophecy: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 2 Tim. 3: 1-5. It does not require much stretch of imagination to see the fulfillment of this prophecy at the present time. If the present generation does not answer the description here given, it can hardly be claimed that there is any point in the prophecy at all, and it would seem almost useless to look for its fulfillment. But there are many who do discern the fulfillment in the existing condition of society, and deem it a duty to "call upon all men everywhere to repent" and prepare for the Judgment. Therefore in carrying forward what is deemed to be the last work of reformation, it is well for those engaged in it to consider the situation, and work with reference to the principal evil. If love of self is to be the characteristic fault of the last days, those who do the Lord's work in such times will have to make a specialty of combating this evil; for if it predominate in the world there will be danger of it cropping out in the church also. The church is not only made up of accessions from the world, but it is constantly surrounded by the temptations of the world, after which the "unstable" are always more or less inclined to go. Supposing that we are in the "last days" now, from the fact that this trait of character is manifest everywhere, in all classes of society, what shall be done to counteract the "perilous" influences arising from this state of things? Especially, what shall be done to keep it out of the church? Let us turn to the example of our Lord, and inquire what he did in such a case. We can find in the Scriptures a precedent for almost any emergency. They were "written for our learning," that the man of God might be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Turning to the word, we find an example to the point in Mark 10: 17-22. Yes, the occurrence was deemed of so much importance that it is three times recorded, being also found in Matt. 19 and in Luke 18. Mark gives it as follows:— "And when he [Jesus] was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud not, honor thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest; go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved; for he had great possessions." Here was a member of the church, one who no doubt really thought he was keeping the commandments, but he was afflicted with that terrible disease, selfishness. He came to the "Good Master," entirely ignorant of his chronic malady, and asked what he should do to inherit eternal life. The discerning eye of the Great Physician at once saw what was his failing, and gave the necessary advice. Note the fact that, aside from the Lord's acute discernment in the case, he "loved him." This fact is sufficient evidence that he gave him the very best advice that could be given, and no more severe than was actually necessary. If giving a part of his property would have answered the purpose, it is probable that only a part would have been required. But Jesus loved him, and was anxious that he should make a thorough work of overcoming. That property, in some way, stood between him and eternal life, and his only safety was in getting it all out of the way. Here we have the key to the teaching necessary to properly warn the church and the world against that peculiar phase of sin to which they will be specially subjected. Jesus says, "Follow me," and we cannot improve upon the precept of the Great Teacher. His remedy for selfishness was a sacrifice of property—all, if the case be an extreme one—to the cause of God. He exhorted to "take heed, and beware of covetousness" (Luke 12: 15); and the exhortation appears all the more important in the light of Paul's definition of covetousness—"which is idolatry." Col. 3: 5. Then in view of the great danger before us, to arise from this evil, is it not high time to be inculcating the grace of giving? Surely it will have to be taught throughout the land. It will be of little avail to warn the world of impending peril without specifying wherein the danger exists, and also the most effectual safeguard in such a time. Old and young must needs be fortified against the "perilous times" of the "last days," resulting from men's love of their own selves, and their consequent disregard of the rights of others. If a sacrifice of property to the Lord's work be the sovereign specific for the soul already ensnared by the sin of selfishness, it must certainly be the best preventive of such a malady in the human heart.