SELFISHNESS by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 24, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 24.

SELFISHNESS.

By M. C. W.

SELFISHNESS! how much it comprehends! We mourn over the sins and vices around us,—the lawlessness and licentiousness everywhere prevailing; the greed of gain, which is grinding the face of the poor, and rapidly transforming the Governments of earth into vast plutocracies; the hydra-headed monster intemperance, which is converting the meetings of legislative assemblies into drunken revels, happy homes to paupers' dwellings, men in the image of God into beings lower than brutes, orphaning and beggaring its millions, swelling the torrent of crime and misery, blasting and blighting everything of good in its path,—all these crimes and woes, and many others, till "the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint." It is, indeed, a sad picture, and it is sadder still to know that the root of all these sins is deeply grounded in our nature, deep in the carnal heart, the sin of all sins, because the beginning of all—selfishness.

Sin began with Satan. He was its prime instigator. It was in the weakness of selfishness that he fell. Says the Lord to him, through his prophet, "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." It was in the weakness of selfishness that man fell under his wiles. It was a selfish motive which the arch-enemy presented before him, namely, "Ye shall be as gods." Selfishness thus brought into life, by the father of evil, predominated, and our first parents fell. Fell also the human race. The secret spring was touched which unlocked the human heart, and Satan entered and took possession. Truly he is a foe we have reason to fear. "Eternal vigilance is the price of safety" from his pernicious wiles; but there is one foe we have more reason to fear than even Satan and all his host, and that is selfishness, or

self-love. It is this sin that opens the door of our heart and admits the enemy. It is this sin which leads to the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life. It is this sin which leads us to reject Christ, the embodiment of unselfishness.

Many suppose that the magnitude of the sins they commit rests with Satan, that if we can only resist his wiles we are safe; and this is true in a measure. But there is only one way to meet his advances and repel his attacks. If we hold paramount our own selfish ways and wishes, if we cherish and cling to our darling sins, the devil will be sure to lead us captive at last. The only successful way to overcome sin and gain the victory is to dislodge from our hearts the terrible enemy of all good,—selfishness,—which dwells within. This is in harmony with the teaching of the apostle James: "But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed." The devil is the "enticer," but he entices by drawing on the selfish lusts, desires, and longings of the human heart. Were there nothing of evil cherished in our heart, there would be no affinity or union with the king of evil.

How dangerous it is, then, to harbor within our heart one sin, be it ever so small! It is a traitor who will unbar the gates to the enemy. Search, dear reader, through all the catalogue of sins which you have committed, and see if they did not have their origin in the selfishness of the carnal heart. Knowing this, we can work intelligently in overcoming sin. Put away the lust, the pride, the love of pleasure and ease, the greed of gain, the vain ambition, the love of power, and open the door of your heart to the King of holiness and peace. Follow the advice of the wise man: "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Our Saviour has said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself."

M. C. W.