General Articles by Ellen G. White

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1886

General Articles.

By Ellen G. White

Love among Brethren.

“Be kindly affectioned one toward another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another.”

WE call God our Father, and claim to be children of one family. Our heavenly Father loves us with an infinite tenderness, and surrounds us with the evidences of that love; and if we loved him in return, we should love his children also. “For he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?”

Yet how many there are among professed Christians who have little love for one another; how many who instead of manifesting a charitable spirit are very severe upon those whom they suppose to be in error, while at the same time they are very sensitive to the least blame or question in regard to their own course. Too often hints are thrown out, and sharp criticisms are indulged in, when these critical, censorious ones are blind to their own errors, which are perfectly evident to others. When this disposition is manifested, when there is a desire to lessen the influence of another in order to build up self, we please the enemy, and grieve Him whom we profess to follow. The tenderness and mercy that Jesus revealed in his life should be an example to us in our treatment of our fellow-beings, and especially those who are our brethren in Christ. We are daily recipients of the bounties of Heaven, and loving gratitude should spring up in our hearts. Thoughts of the goodness of God to us should soften our hearts toward others, and lead us to sympathize with our neighbors and make their interests our own.

The love of God for us is manifested daily; yet we are thoughtless of his favors and indifferent to his entreaties. He seeks to impress us with his spirit of tenderness, his gentleness and forbearance; but we scarcely recognize the evidence of his kindness, and have little sense of the lesson of love he desires us to learn. But the Spirit of God will not abide where there is disunion and contention among believers. Even if these feelings are unexpressed, when they take possession of the heart they drive out the peace and love that should characterize the Christian church. They are the result of selfishness in its fullest sense,—an evil which may manifest itself in inordinate self-esteem or in an undue longing for the approbation of others, even if approbation be obtained by unworthy means.

The disciples of Christ will heed the instruction of the Master, who bids us love one another even as he has loved us. Religion is founded upon love,—love to God and to our fellow-men. It is full of gratitude, humility, long-suffering. It is self-sacrificing, forbearing, merciful, and forgiving. It sanctifies the whole life, and exerts an influence over others.

Those who love God cannot harbor malice, hatred, or envy. When the heavenly principle of love reigns in the heart, it will flow out to others, not merely because favors have been received, but because the ruling principle of action is love,—a principle which modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, subdues enmity, and elevates and ennobles the entire being. This love is not contracted so as to include merely “me and mine,” but is as broad as the world and as high as Heaven, and is in harmony with that of the angel workers. When it is cherished in the soul, it sweetens the entire life and exerts a refining influence on all around. Possessing it, we shall be happy, whether fortune smiles or frowns.

This love is the heavenly adorning that gives true nobility and dignity to the soul, and assimilates our lives to the life of the Master. No matter how many good qualities we may possess, no matter how honorable, intelligent, and refined we may be, if the heart is not imbued with the heavenly grace of love to God and one another, we are deficient in true goodness, and unfit for Heaven, where all is love and unity.

During the earthly ministry of Christ, the sick and afflicted were special objects of his care. He devoted more time to healing them of their maladies than to the work of public preaching. When he sent out the disciples, he commanded them to heal the sick as well as to preach the gospel. When he sent out the seventy, he commanded them to heal the sick, and then to preach that the kingdom of God had come nigh unto them. The physical health of the people was to be their first care, in order that the way might be prepared for minds to be reached by the truths which they were to preach. When the Saviour gave the commission to his apostles, who were to be his representatives upon the earth, he said of those who should believe the gospel, “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” And when the Master shall come, he will commend those who have cared for the sick and the afflicted.

We are slow to learn the mighty influence of trifles, and their bearing upon the salvation of souls. The joy of our Lord consisted in enduring toil and shame for others, that they might be benefited through him; and there is great need that the pitying tenderness of our divine Pattern should be manifested at all times and in all places. God, in his providence, has willed that no one can secure happiness by living for self alone; but we may all find happiness in following the example of Christ, and living to bless our fellow-men.

Some who once loved God, and lived in the daily enjoyment of his favor, are now in darkness and despairing gloom. This is because they are cherishing self. They are seeking so hard to carry out their own selfish aims that all other considerations are swallowed up in this. In bearing their own yoke and carrying their own burden, they find no rest. But Jesus invites them to take his yoke and bear his burden; and in complying with this invitation, they will find rest and peace, light and joy. If they will forget self in the effort to do good, and to carry sunshine wherever they go, their gloom and despondency will disappear.

Jesus cited the lawyer who asked him what he should do to inherit eternal life to the sacred law-code given from Sinai; and to the lawyer’s interpretation of that code: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself,” he responded, “Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live.”

“Thy neighbor as thyself.” The question arises, “Who is my neighbor?” His reply is the parable of the good Samaritan, which teaches us that any human being who needs our sympathy and our kind offices is our neighbor. The suffering and destitute are our neighbors; and when their wants are brought to our knowledge, it is our duty to relieve them as far as possible. A principle is brought out in this parable that it would be well for the followers of Christ to adopt. First meet the temporal necessities of the needy, relieve their wants and sufferings, and you will then find an open avenue to the heart, where you may plant the good seeds of virtue and religion.

Those who desire to be missionaries have in our world of need a large field in which to labor. They should not wait for some great work to do, but should cheerfully take up that which is nearest to their hand. Jesus was the Majesty of Heaven; yet he stooped to the humblest offices. He ministered to rich and poor alike, having no respect to persons or station. And he would have each of us follow his example in meekness and humility. “Learn of me,” he says; “for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Here is the repose which so many crave, and in vain spend time and money to obtain.

Self-exaltation must be renounced by those who would serve God; otherwise they cannot expect the blessing of his divine favor. It is a wicked pride that delights in the vanity of one’s own works, and boasts of one’s excellent qualities, seeking to make others seem inferior in order to exalt self, claiming more glory than the cold heart is willing to give to God.

Instead of cultivating an unworthy ambition to be equal with, or higher than another in honor or position, we should seek to be faithful in the discharge of the humble duties assigned us. The spirit of self-aggrandizement is the spirit of Satan. It caused contention among the apostles even while Christ was with them. But when they disputed who among them should be greatest, Jesus sat down, and, calling

the twelve, said unto them, “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all.”

When a mother made a request that her two sons should be especially favored in the kingdom of Christ, he told her that the honor and glory of his kingdom was to be the reverse of the honor and glory of this world. Whoever would be great must be a humble minister unto others, and he who would be chief must be a servant; even as the Son of God was a minister and a servant unto the children of men.

Thus the heavenly Teacher reproved the spirit of self-seeking, which is so contrary to the spirit of divine love that should reign in the hearts of his followers. He says: “This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”