p. 7 | Selfishness

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 6, 1878

Selfishness.

Human selfishness crops out everywhere, leaving its depressing influence most on those who expect most of their fellows. It is an odious trait of character and not easily disguised. Many, however, assume a thin veil of seeming kindness and generosity as a kind of polish to their manners, forgetting the Scriptural injunction, "Love without dissimulation," which is the very soul of good manners. Dissimulation without love, however, suits the convenience of far too many.

But there is a class—small and smaller may they grow—who neither dissemble, nor love. They take pride in their ability to annoy, wound, and humiliate those upon whom rests their ban of dislike. Neither age, sex, nor feebleness afford a refuge from the leers of the insolent school boy, the jeering remarks of the insufferable loafer and the knowing smiles of the silly miss. These are some of the weapons the selfish and the ill-bred are prone to use, seldom lacking opportunity for subjects and observers.

How hideous and deformed does this image of self-love appear when viewed at a distance, or when recognized in a fellow creature? But how we soften its name calling it "self-preservation," "sense of duty to myself," etc., when conscious of harboring within us a disposition so discordant with the spirit of the "golden rule." Its ugly outlines, however, cannot be concealed.

Men and women, in their rush for happiness strive to be first, or best; or like the man in the Bible in gay clothing with a gold ring, they wish to be respected for their fine things, and have it said of them, "Sit thou here in a good place," while he with the vile raiment is told "Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool."

There is but one highway to happiness opened up to us, by our heavenly Father. In it is found man's chiefest good and supremest happiness. It is this: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy might, mind, and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself."—Sel.