Secret Faults | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 19, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 44.

Secret Faults.

This may not mean so much faults concealed from others as those which are hidden from ourselves. Do you think this impossible?

Long ago a friend made the startling suggestion that men are usually ignorant of their greatest faults. Said my friend, "I did not make the discovery myself, but it was suggested by a minister, a man of much experience in life and in the world. It set me to thinking, and what I at first denied I afterward concluded must be true."

In the first place, if we really saw a thing to be our greatest fault, if we had any true desire for improvement, the first impulse would be to correct that fault, and then it would cease to be the greatest. For our own sakes, we do not go on willfully indulging what we know to be a fault or a blemish in our character, and one which others must recognize; our desire to stand well in their esteem is too strong for that.

Then we may mistake in our estimate of our own characters, and so remain ignorant. For instance, what others regard as obstinacy may appear to us but proper firmness, or perhaps fixed principles. Men do not always know themselves.

I have seen an avaricious man who called himself, and who really thought he was, liberal and benevolent. He had generous impulses, and was always going to do something at some future time. The only trouble was that he had so many schemes for gain, so many present uses for his money, that his generous plans were always in the future and receding. He loved benevolence, but he loved gain better. Nothing could have surprised him more than to be told that he was not a liberal man. He was, and is, ignorant of his greatest fault.

I know a woman who is uncharitable and severe; she speaks out just what she thinks, and so says a great many hard things. Yet she does not mean to be harsh and hard; she considers it only commendable frankness, and would be surprised, and led to an indignant denial, if she were told that she disregarded the law of love. She does not mean to do so; and she has kindness in her heart, but her severe judgment is stronger than love. I know a person who is thoroughly selfish, and yet is exceedingly kind to his own family or friends, and he thinks he does a great deal for others. But indeed he never puts himself out of his way, and what he does is done for those who are his own—his second self. He would be astonished if you accused him of selfishness. Said my friend, "Tell me my greatest fault, and see if I do not know it." "No; you would not believe it, and would only be disturbed; you could gain nothing, and I should not stand as well with you."

That is a hard case, if we are not only ignorant of our faults, but will not bear to be told of them. Then the help lies in this—there is One "who searcheth the heart." If we are truly desirous to be better, let us search and try our ways, and turn unto the Lord. Let us honestly pray, "Cleanse thou me from secret faults."—Sel.