Our Dependence by Clarence Santee

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 23, 1915

Our Dependence

By Clarence Santee

The Need of the Human Hand of Sympathy

By CLARENCE SANTEE

PEOPLE often boast of their independence, their ability to stand alone. They do not so often call attention to their need of a strong arm and a willing heart to aid in bearing the crosses of life.

There is a point beyond which man cannot go, a limit where the strength fails, the heart breaks. Christ, the example of all Christian grace and strength, bore His cross until He fell fainting under the load. A human hand must be extended to Him if He would go farther.

That cross was not borne by Christ for Himself alone. He bore it for mankind. When failing, He made Himself dependent upon a fellow human to bear His burden.

HUMAN WEAKNESS AND THE HELPING HAND

There is no one so resolute and strong but that at times his human weakness demands a helping hand. If that call is stifled within his own breast, it will in time embitter his life. The loving and loved life must give and receive. Christ gave for all; yet while giving freely, He as graciously received from those who loved Him. The Spirit of God has mentioned some who "ministered unto Him of their substance." Luke 8:3.

Moses had an independent spirit, cultivated by his success as a general of armies. The best part of his life — from the age of forty years to that of eighty — was spent in learning the lesson of his entire dependence. Those years were not spent in vain.

His first public missionary effort was the defense of an Israelite by killing an Egyptian. If that killing of an opponent had been his last missionary effort, how different would be the standing of the cause of Christ in this dark world to-day! But too often the would-be missionary has left the subject of his effort prejudiced, bitter, dead, with eyes and ears as effectually closed as were the Egyptian's when covered with the sand. In many cases, only the event that wakens the one — the second resurrection — will waken the other. Such results usually come from independent efforts. Better a union with Christ, with a realization of absolute dependence and need of counsel.

It is true that there are souls in this world who will hate a Christian life. Jesus testified, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you." John 15:18. "Because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." Verse 19.

THE SELF-SUFFICIENT SPIRIT

The independent, self-sufficient spirit is far more liable to look to its own attainments, and in this way become self-deceived as to its actual standing before God. It is not that which we see in ourselves that will form the basis of our judgment, but that which is there, but that we do not see.

This is made plain in the parable of the sheep and the goats. Matt. 25:31-46. While the righteous in surprise ask when they did those things that now are set to their account, with such great reward, the wicked will point to their supposed deeds of merit, saying, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?" Matt. 7:22.

Many who feel that their life has been a failure, with nothing but the simple, everyday duties which at times seem to stand in the way of greater Christian achievements, debarring them from some part in missionary enterprises, will be among those surprised ones who, for faithfulness in the small duties, receive the “Come, ye blessed of My Father.”

It has been said that a kiss upon the forehead denotes respect; upon the cheek, friendship; upon the lips, affection. By those who rejected Christ, His brow was torn by thorns. Instead of respect they gave contempt. His cheek, instead of receiving the kiss of friendship, was struck and spit upon in hatred. Instead of the kiss of affection, those lips were smitten in the presence of the high priest, with jealousy and rage.

Are you willing to drink the cup, to follow in the steps of the Master? You will remember the words of Christ, “If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20.

SECRET OF HIS VICTORIES

The secret of Christ’s victories was in His entire dependence upon One stronger than Himself. He said, “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30. The “faith of Jesus” will not exalt self. Faith cannot grow and strengthen by what is seen. There are certain vines that stand apparently still by day, but in the darkness of night they reach out and grasp, with strong tendrils, the support that may be found pointing upward. In the same way, the child of weakness and dependence, reaching out in its darkness, may cultivate faith, and with interlocking tendrils, grasp and utilize all the strength that lies in Him who has said that “underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deut. 33:27.

It is a grand thought,—that the weak vine may so attach itself to the strong pillar that the strength of the pillar will be the measure of the strength of the vine. Yet this is true. Union with Christ is the same. His strength is the measure of the strength of the one who trusts Him. It is for the one who will believe, and it will never fail.