“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”—Neh. 8:8.
Lesson II.—Sabbath, October 12, 1895.
The Slavery of Self
1. What can you say of the desirability of freedom? Note 1.
2. Notwithstanding this general desire for freedom, are men by nature free? Note 2.
3. In what way do men show themselves to be slaves?
(a) By their inability to break off bad habits.
(b) By following foolish and erroneous customs.
(c) By want of courage to think and speak.
(d) By going with the majority when the majority go wrong.
(e) By serving men instead of serving God.
(f) By keeping the commandments of men instead of the commandments of God.
(g) By every sin they commit. Note 3.
4. Why do men naturally do all these wrong things? Ans.—Because of selfishness.
5. What must everyone do in order to become a true follower of Christ?
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23.
6. What stood in the way of many of the rulers confessing Christ when he was on earth?
“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:42, 43.
7. Whom do men love when they love the praise of men? Ans.—Themselves.
8. Can men truly believe on Jesus while seeking such honor?
“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?” John 5:43, 44.
9. What, then, more than all else, stands in the way of faith in Jesus?
10. To what does this love of self lead? Ans.—It leads men to serve men and to seek their favor, instead of serving God and seeking his favor.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.
15. How free was Paul after his conversion?
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” 1 Cor. 9:19. See note 4.
16. What rule of moral independence has the Lord laid down for all to follow?
“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Ex. 23:2.
Notes
1. Freedom is a condition desirable to all. Everybody likes to be free—free to think, act, and speak, free to go where he wishes, and do what he pleases. It is an inborn principle. God made man free in the beginning, and it is only sin that has brought bondage and slavery of any kind into the world. The words of Patrick Henry, “Give me liberty, or give me death,” are but an outburst of this natural desire for freedom.
2. No man by nature is truly free. All, in consequence of the fall, are slaves; all are subject to things which bring them into bondage,—slaves of habits, customs, and traditions, slaves of men, slaves of self, slaves of sin.
3. Men show themselves to be slaves in the following ways: (a) They become so addicted to habits which they know are an injury to them, that they can not break them off. They try to do it again and again, but fail. The habit is master, and they are slaves. This lack of power is thus stated by the apostle: “For what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” Rom. 7:15. “For to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Verse 18.
(b) Many do things for no better reason than because others do them, or because their forefathers did them. They are slaves to custom. This is well illustrated by the history of the Samaritans, recorded in 2 Kings 17:40, 41: “Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner. So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children’s children; as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.” This is also most strikingly shown in the matter of Sunday observance. The condition of millions in this respect is correctly represented in the following words of Ex-Governor St. John: “I observe Sunday as God’s holy Sabbath day. I am frank about it. It always pays a man to be frank. Now, why do I observe Sunday?—I observe Sunday because my father and mother observed it, and not because I have gone down deep and searched the Bible for the truth of the matter.”—Speech in Battle Creek, Mich., Sept. 8, 1890.
(c) Many have not the courage to think and speak. They are afraid to allow themselves to reason, fearing that the conclusion will condemn them. They let others do their thinking for them. But God wants men to use the mental powers he has given them. He, the Author of our minds, says, “Come now, and let us reason together.” Isa. 1:18. Others, though allowing themselves to think, have not the courage to give expression to their convictions, fearing it might cost them something to do it. This was the trouble with many in Christ’s day: “Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.” John 7:13. See also John 9:22.
(d) To go with the majority or the great men when we think they may be doing wrong. The Lord says: “Thou hast plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” Hosea 10:13. “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Ex. 23:2.
(e) Many shun duty for fear of what men may think or say of them or do to them. They serve men instead of God. Against this the Lord has often warned his people: “Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Isa. 8:12, 13. See also Isa. 57:12, 13; Matt. 10:28, 32, 33; Ps. 56:4. The Lord teaches that what we do for or in respect to others we are to do “not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” Eph. 6:6, 7.
(f) Whosoever follows the commandments of men instead of the commandments of God, is the servant of men instead of the servant of God. This is vain worship, because it is man worship. See Matt. 15:9; Isa. 29:13; Titus 1:14.
(g) Whoever commits sin is the servant, or slave, of sin, and through sin of the devil, who is the originator and author of sin. John 8:34; Rom. 6:16; 1 John 3:8. All is of self.
4. Though announced in an assumed way, Paul does, nevertheless, here express his freedom. He was “free from all men.” And his perfect freedom is further shown in the expression which follows, “Yet have I made myself servant unto all.” This was voluntary. He made himself servant. Let it be noted, also, that this freedom which Christ gives, though making men free from all men, does not make them unfeeling or ostentatiously independent, but kind-hearted, sympathetic, and willing and ready to do good to all. See Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4.
See opening paragraph in chapter 1 of “The Rights of the People.”
