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Separation From the World
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over their larger possessions. God has been robbed and themselves
indulged, their pleasure consulted, their taste gratified, without a
thought that He would make close investigation of how they have
used His goods. While such unhesitatingly gratify their supposed
wants and withhold from God the offering they ought to make, He
will no more accept the little pittance they hand into the treasury
than He accepted the offering of Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who
purposed to rob Him in their offerings.
As a general thing, the young among us are allied to the world.
But few maintain a special warfare against the internal foe, few have
an earnest, anxious desire to know and do the will of God. But few
hunger and thirst after righteousness, and few know anything of the
Spirit of God as a reprover or comforter. Where are the missionaries?
Where are the self-denying, self-sacrificing ones? Where are the
cross bearers? Self and self-interest have swallowed up high and
noble principles. Things of eternal moment bear with no special
weight upon the mind. God requires them individually to come up
to the point to make an entire surrender. “Ye cannot serve God and
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mammon.” You cannot serve self and at the same time be servants of
Christ. You must die to self, die to your love of pleasure, and learn
to inquire: Will God be pleased with the objects for which I purpose
to spend this means? Shall I glorify Him?
We are commanded, whether we eat, or drink, or whatsoever we
do, to do all to the glory of God. How many have conscientiously
moved from principle rather than from impulse, and obeyed this
command to the letter? How many of the youthful disciples in-----
have made God their trust and portion, and have earnestly sought to
know and do His will? There are many who are servants of Christ in
name, but who are not so in deed. Where religious principle governs,
the danger of committing great errors is small; for selfishness, which
always blinds and deceives, is subordinate. The sincere desire to
do others good so predominates that self is forgotten. To have
firm religious principles is an inestimable treasure. It is the purest,
highest, and most elevated influence mortals can possess. Such have
an anchor. Every act is well considered, lest its effect be injurious
to another and lead away from Christ. The constant inquiry of the
mind is: Lord, how shall I best serve Thee, and glorify Thy name in
the earth? How shall I conduct my life to make Thy name a praise