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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Macduff Collection: MacDuff, John - The Footsteps of Jesus: 05 Selfishness—Unselfish Love
TOPIC: MacDuff, John - The Footsteps of Jesus (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 05 Selfishness—Unselfish Love
Other Subjects in this Topic:
"Am I my brother's keeper?" Gen_4:9
"To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." 1Co_9:22
"Mankind," says one, "are fallen from God into a great gulf of sinful selfishness." "Pleasure, profit, and honor," says another, "are the natural man's trinity; and his carnal self is this trinity in unity." With most of our fellow-creatures, self is Alpha, and self is Omega—it is first and last, middle and end.
And there is too much of this selfishness in the Christian Church. "All men," says the apostle, when referring to certain religionists of his day, "seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." Even those who have been brought to realize somewhat of the value of spiritual blessings, often manifest too exclusive a regard for their own personal well-being. It is to be feared that many in attending the means of grace are only solicitous about their own edification and comfort. And there are some, of very high pretensions, who can tolerate no preaching but that which is addressed to believers invariably. O, have such never read of the faithful shepherd, who left the ninety-nine sheep that were safe and secure, in order to traverse the wilderness in search of the one wanderer? They would have the ninety—nine wanderers neglected, that undivided attention might be given to the one or the few folded sheep. To be personally comforted is their great concern. Let others perish; it matters but little—so long as they themselves are pampered and fed. But let us be well assured that there is something radically wrong where such a feeling exists. It is a sure sign, not of spiritual health but of spiritual sickliness, if not of spiritual unsoundness. Even were there no wandering ones to be reclaimed, this undue, inordinate panting after what is merely comforting, ought not by any means to be encouraged. It is as if we were always taking stimulants and cordials, which, though they may for the time revive the spirits, would yet be secretly—but surely, undermining the strength.
It is quite natural for the people of God to be concerned about obtaining a blessing for their own souls. But the thing to be shunned is being concerned for that alone. When the believer treads the threshold of the sanctuary, it is very proper for his cry to be, "O You who speak peace to Your people and to Your saints, speak peace to my waiting soul. I beseech You to show me Your glory; reveal Your smiling face, and make me joyful in Your house of prayer." But let him not forget to add, "Save now, I beseech you, O Lord; quicken the dead; alarm the careless; break the sinner's heart; open his blind eyes; and work mightily by Your truth upon the consciences of those who have never felt its saving power."
And so in reference to those practical efforts which we are called upon to make with the view of reclaiming those who are ignorant and lost. Alas! that the interest taken in the welfare of such, should be so languid, and that the exertions put forth on their behalf should be so few.
The reader may recollect the language which the Jewish elders addressed to Judas, when, with compunction and remorse, he returned to them the thirty pieces of silver—the sum for which he had sold the Son of God. Did they endeavor to nourish the contrition which he seemed to manifest, when he cried, "I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood?" No; but with an indifference that must have chilled him, they replied, "What is that to us? See to that yourself." Now this is in effect the language of all who are unconcerned about the well-being of their fellow-creatures. Tell them of the misery that abounds; tell them of the temporal and spiritual destitution of hundreds and thousands around them; tell them of the teeming millions who are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, strangers to happiness and strangers to God—and their practical reply is, "What is that to us?" Ah! there is a day coming when they will see that it is something to them; and that were they guilty of no other crime than that of indifference to the wants and woes of their fellow-men, they will be consigned, with the unprofitable servant, to the place where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
In seeking to do good to others—we are likely to get good ourselves. "The liberal soul," says the wise man, "shall be made fat, and he who waters shall be watered also himself." Relieve the distressed; clothe the naked; feed the hungry; instruct the ignorant. Thus the blessing of those who are ready to perish will come upon you; you will enjoy the approving testimony of a peaceful conscience, that testimony which is "the soul's sweet sunshine and the heart-felt joy;" and in the performance of such acts you will be materially benefited yourself.
There is an old proverb which says, "Everyone for himself, and God for all." We trust that the sentiment it expresses is one with which we have no sympathy.
Be it ours to nourish "another spirit," even the spirit of the Lord Jesus, who pleased not Himself. Had it been "everyone for himself" with Him, the throne of His glory would never have been left; He would not have appeared as a humble babe in Bethlehem; there would have been no groaning in the garden; no bleeding on the accursed tree. Had it been "everyone for himself" with Him, the violated law must have taken its dreadful course; the vials of divine wrath would have been poured out upon our guilty heads; and ruin, unmixed, unaltered, unending ruin would have been our portion. But let us rejoice that He espoused our cause, and that He died the sinless for the sinful to bring us to God. And may the contemplation of His unexampled love, shame us out of that spirit of selfishness in which we are so prone to indulge; and constrain us to live, not to ourselves—but to Him.
"To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." 1Co_9:22
"Mankind," says one, "are fallen from God into a great gulf of sinful selfishness." "Pleasure, profit, and honor," says another, "are the natural man's trinity; and his carnal self is this trinity in unity." With most of our fellow-creatures, self is Alpha, and self is Omega—it is first and last, middle and end.
And there is too much of this selfishness in the Christian Church. "All men," says the apostle, when referring to certain religionists of his day, "seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." Even those who have been brought to realize somewhat of the value of spiritual blessings, often manifest too exclusive a regard for their own personal well-being. It is to be feared that many in attending the means of grace are only solicitous about their own edification and comfort. And there are some, of very high pretensions, who can tolerate no preaching but that which is addressed to believers invariably. O, have such never read of the faithful shepherd, who left the ninety-nine sheep that were safe and secure, in order to traverse the wilderness in search of the one wanderer? They would have the ninety—nine wanderers neglected, that undivided attention might be given to the one or the few folded sheep. To be personally comforted is their great concern. Let others perish; it matters but little—so long as they themselves are pampered and fed. But let us be well assured that there is something radically wrong where such a feeling exists. It is a sure sign, not of spiritual health but of spiritual sickliness, if not of spiritual unsoundness. Even were there no wandering ones to be reclaimed, this undue, inordinate panting after what is merely comforting, ought not by any means to be encouraged. It is as if we were always taking stimulants and cordials, which, though they may for the time revive the spirits, would yet be secretly—but surely, undermining the strength.
It is quite natural for the people of God to be concerned about obtaining a blessing for their own souls. But the thing to be shunned is being concerned for that alone. When the believer treads the threshold of the sanctuary, it is very proper for his cry to be, "O You who speak peace to Your people and to Your saints, speak peace to my waiting soul. I beseech You to show me Your glory; reveal Your smiling face, and make me joyful in Your house of prayer." But let him not forget to add, "Save now, I beseech you, O Lord; quicken the dead; alarm the careless; break the sinner's heart; open his blind eyes; and work mightily by Your truth upon the consciences of those who have never felt its saving power."
And so in reference to those practical efforts which we are called upon to make with the view of reclaiming those who are ignorant and lost. Alas! that the interest taken in the welfare of such, should be so languid, and that the exertions put forth on their behalf should be so few.
The reader may recollect the language which the Jewish elders addressed to Judas, when, with compunction and remorse, he returned to them the thirty pieces of silver—the sum for which he had sold the Son of God. Did they endeavor to nourish the contrition which he seemed to manifest, when he cried, "I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood?" No; but with an indifference that must have chilled him, they replied, "What is that to us? See to that yourself." Now this is in effect the language of all who are unconcerned about the well-being of their fellow-creatures. Tell them of the misery that abounds; tell them of the temporal and spiritual destitution of hundreds and thousands around them; tell them of the teeming millions who are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, strangers to happiness and strangers to God—and their practical reply is, "What is that to us?" Ah! there is a day coming when they will see that it is something to them; and that were they guilty of no other crime than that of indifference to the wants and woes of their fellow-men, they will be consigned, with the unprofitable servant, to the place where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
In seeking to do good to others—we are likely to get good ourselves. "The liberal soul," says the wise man, "shall be made fat, and he who waters shall be watered also himself." Relieve the distressed; clothe the naked; feed the hungry; instruct the ignorant. Thus the blessing of those who are ready to perish will come upon you; you will enjoy the approving testimony of a peaceful conscience, that testimony which is "the soul's sweet sunshine and the heart-felt joy;" and in the performance of such acts you will be materially benefited yourself.
There is an old proverb which says, "Everyone for himself, and God for all." We trust that the sentiment it expresses is one with which we have no sympathy.
Be it ours to nourish "another spirit," even the spirit of the Lord Jesus, who pleased not Himself. Had it been "everyone for himself" with Him, the throne of His glory would never have been left; He would not have appeared as a humble babe in Bethlehem; there would have been no groaning in the garden; no bleeding on the accursed tree. Had it been "everyone for himself" with Him, the violated law must have taken its dreadful course; the vials of divine wrath would have been poured out upon our guilty heads; and ruin, unmixed, unaltered, unending ruin would have been our portion. But let us rejoice that He espoused our cause, and that He died the sinless for the sinful to bring us to God. And may the contemplation of His unexampled love, shame us out of that spirit of selfishness in which we are so prone to indulge; and constrain us to live, not to ourselves—but to Him.