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Doing for Christ
27
Jesus here expresses as existing between Himself and His suffering
disciples! He makes their case His own. He identifies Himself as
being in person the very sufferer. Mark, selfish Christian: every
neglect of the needy poor, the orphan, the fatherless, is a neglect of
Jesus in their person.
I am acquainted with persons who make a high profession, whose
hearts are so encased in self-love and selfishness that they cannot
appreciate what I am writing. They have all their lives thought and
lived only for self. To make a sacrifice to do others good, to dis-
advantage themselves to advantage others, is out of the question
with them. They have not the least idea that God requires this of
them. Self is their idol. Precious weeks, months, and years pass into
eternity, but they have no record in heaven of kindly acts, of sacri-
ficing for others’ good, of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked,
or taking in the stranger. This entertaining strangers at a venture is
not agreeable. If they knew that all who sought to share their bounty
were worthy, then they might be induced to do something in this
direction. But there is virtue in venturing something. Perchance we
may entertain angels.
[27]
There are orphans that should be cared for; but some will not
venture to undertake this, for it would bring them more work than
they care to do, leaving them but little time to please themselves.
But when the King shall make investigation, these do-nothing, il-
liberal, selfish souls will learn that heaven is for those who have
been workers, those who have denied themselves for Christ’s sake.
No provisions have been made for those who have ever taken such
special care in loving and looking out for themselves. The terrible
punishment which the King threatens those on His left hand, in this
case, is not because of their great crimes. They are not condemned
for the things which they did do, but for that which they did not do.
You did not those things which Heaven assigned you to do. You
pleased yourself, and can take your portion with self-pleasers.
To my sisters I would say: Be daughters of benevolence. The
Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. You may
have thought that if you could find a child without fault, you would
take it, and care for it; but to perplex your mind with an erring child,
to unlearn it many things and teach it anew, to teach it self-control, is
a work which you refuse to undertake. To teach the ignorant, to pity