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Selected Messages Book 2
for God all their energies in cooperation with the divine agencies, and
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all the increased ability gained through the exercise of every faculty.
Blighting Effects of Selfishness and Covetousness
Those who can sever their connection with the Lord’s work for
some worldly inducement, may think they have a degree of interest
in the cause of God; but the selfishness and covetousness lurking
in the human heart are most powerful passions, and the outcome of
the conflict is not a mere conjecture. Unless the soul is daily living
upon Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood, the godly element will be
overcome by the satanic. Selfishness and covetousness will bear away
the victory. A self-confident, independent spirit will never enter into
the kingdom of God. It is only those who are partakers with Christ
in His self-denial and sacrifice that will be partakers with Him in His
glory.
Those who realize, even in a limited degree, what redemption
means to them and to their fellow men, will walk by faith, and they will
comprehend in some measure the vast needs of humanity. Their hearts
are moved to compassion as they behold the widespread destitution in
our world—multitudes suffering for food and clothing, and the moral
destitution of thousands upon thousands who are under the shadow of
a terrible doom, in comparison with which physical suffering fades
into nothingness. The religion of Jesus Christ has gained wonderful
victories over human selfishness. The self-denial, the self-sacrifice of
Christ is ever before those who are co-workers with Him, and the will
of man becomes submerged in the will of God
God designs that all who are laborers together with Him should
have a rich experience in His love and His power to save. Never should
we say, “I have no experience,” for that God who gave Paul an experi-
ence will reveal Himself to every soul who will earnestly seek Him.
What said God to Abraham? “I know him,” said the heartsearching
God, “that he will command his children and his household after him,
and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment”
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(
Genesis 18:19
). Abraham would cultivate home religion, and the
fear of the Lord would lead to integrity of life. He who blesses the
habitation of the righteous says, “I know him that he will command.”
There is no betraying of sacred trusts, no hesitating between right and