SELFISHNESS by Geo. Wright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 24, 1861

SELFISHNESS.

By Geo. Wright

In no period of this world's history has selfishness been so general as at the present time. Among the great sins that swell the catalogue of abounding iniquity, none are more blighting than this. It dries up all that makes man noble among his fellow-men; and with him who is under the control of this cruel power, Bible consecration is out of the question. When the plain, straight testimony of God's word is brought to bear upon the minds and hearts of the multitudes that surround us, God's faithful ministers often witness with sorrow, after weeks of labor in presenting the last solemn message of mercy, how few there are willing to obey. The reason is obvious. It may all be traced directly or indirectly to a selfish heart. The sacrifice is too great. Hundreds acknowledge the truth, but the Devil is ready to snatch away the good seed, and they submit to be led captive at his will, and pass on to their doom.

I have before me a letter from a very dear friend in the West, who has had the truth faithfully and ably presented to him the past summer. He acknowledges we have the truth on the Sabbath and near coming of the Lord, but adds, I am a Baptist. He has decided to glide along with a popular church. Will he not, with thousands of others who occupy a similar position, if persisted in, share the fate of those who knew their duty and did it not?

The life of the christian is a self-sacrificing, self-forgetting one. I speak of the real follower of Christ, who can pray with a dying Saviour, Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. How feeble are our best efforts to follow that dear Saviour in whose life cannot be found one selfish word or act. O, for more of the mind that is in Jesus; that willingness to suffer, esteeming the reproaches of Christ, with Moses, greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Give me, dear Lord, strength and grace to walk the radiant path, to rejoice amid the surrounding perils of these last days; and above all,

"Give what I have long implored— A portion of thy grief unknown; Turn and look upon me, Lord, And break my heart of stone."

Is it not time, dear brethren, to closely examine ourselves and see if we are really in the faith? Here are a few gems from Paul's theology to try ourselves by. In honor preferring one another. . . . Condescend to men of low estate. Rom. xii, 10-16. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Phil ii, 3, 4. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 1 Cor. x, 24.

But here is some testimony from the beloved disciple which comes a little closer, a sure test. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? And to crown the whole, he says, We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John iii, 16, 17.

God declares Job to be a perfect and upright man. Did he forget the poor in the days of his prosperity? Let us see. Turn with me to chap. xxix, 11-16. When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me. And why, Job? Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him, the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

This, to my mind, is a noble instance of genuine christian benevolence. Why then, dear reader, withhold the means God has entrusted to your care to use to his glory, and lose the blessing of the cheerful giver? Why cling so tenaciously to the treasures of earth? The blessed cause in which we profess to be engaged, demands entire consecration; and if we really love God with all our hearts, and our neighbor as ourselves, we shall find ample scope for our best offerings and largest liberalities. May God help us to see duty, and overcome every prompting of self, and hear at last the "Well done! thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

"And must I part with all I have, My dearest Lord, for thee? It is but just, since thou hast done Much more than this for me."