What shall We Do? by H. S. Gurney

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 26, 1857

What shall We Do?

By H. S. Gurney

A Scribe once asked our Saviour, "Which is the first commandment of all?" He answered, To love God with all our heart, &c. And the second is like it, to love thy neighbor as thyself. The Scribe acknowledged the fitness of the answer and said, "Thou hast said the truth;" but he replied, "to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." It is easy enough, with the light of the gospel before us, to see the conclusion which must necessarily result from the Scribe's remark; hence the Saviour said to him, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." The Scribe seemed to have a view of the law written upon the heart, and testing even the motives thereof. How different from the young lawyer who declared that he had kept the commandments from his youth, when the fact that he was holding on to his vast possessions proved that he did not love his neighbor as himself. He felt sorry that he could not be perfect without distributing his property. The second principle, love to our neighbor, strikes at the root of selfish interest; a sacrifice of self is required. When this work is complete, God's people are one. The Faith of Jesus is clearly discerned. The apostle Paul understood and was ready to apply the subject. Though he should possess all things and sacrifice all, even his own body, it would not profit him anything. Without love or charity, the grand ruling principle in the gospel, all forms would be an empty show.

It is to be feared there are those who profess to keep all the commandments, and yet do not understand the depth of the Lord's prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread." The rich hold fast their earthly bounty, and are deaf to the poor man's cry! They suppose they love God, when as yet they have not learned to love their neighbor. So deceptive is deceitful mammon in the hands of selfish man!

Jesus taught as never man taught; if we would learn of him we must in great humility confess our sins, errors, blindness, nakedness, wretchedness and want, and thus open the door of our hearts and let the Saviour in. How shall we let him in? He is not here, "Me ye have not always, but the poor ye have always with you." See Matt. xxv. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these (who are suffering) ye have done it unto me."

How can we love God whom we have not seen if we do not love our brother whom we have seen? How can we say we love our brother if we withhold of our substance to supply his need? or even if we do not seek opportunities to relieve the afflicted? "I was sick and ye visited me not!" Let the rich beware lest they give occasion for the poor to cry to the Lord against them, and the Lord hear the groanings of the afflicted.

H. S. GURNEY. Jackson, Mich., Nov. 15th, 1857.