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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
distinct and separate from the world around them, a peculiar people,
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zealous of good works. Among the peculiarities which should distin-
guish God’s people from the world in these last days, is their humility
and meekness. “Learn of Me,” says Christ, “for I am meek and lowly
in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Here is the repose
which so many crave and in vain spend time and money to obtain.
Instead of being ambitious to be equal to another in honor and posi-
tion, or perhaps even higher, we should seek to be the humble, faithful
servants of Christ. This spirit of self-aggrandizement made contention
among the apostles even while Christ was with them. They disputed
who should be greatest among them. Jesus sat down and, calling the
twelve, said unto them: If any man desire to be first, the same shall be
last of all, and servant of all.”
When the mother of two sons made a request that her sons should
be especially favored, one sitting on the right hand and the other on
the left in His kingdom, Jesus impressed upon them that the honor and
glory of His kingdom was to be the reverse of the honor and glory of
this world. Whoever would be great must be a humble minister unto
others, and whoever would be chief must be a servant, even as the Son
of God was a minister and servant unto the children of men.
Again, our Saviour taught His disciples not to be anxious for po-
sition and name. “Be not ye called Rabbi.... Neither be ye called
masters.... But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased.” Jesus cited the
lawyer to the sacred law code given from Sinai: “Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.” He told
him that if he did this he should enter into life.
“Thy neighbor as thyself.” The question arises: “Who is my neigh-
bor?” His reply is the parable of the good Samaritan, which teaches us
that any human being who needs our sympathy and our kind offices is
our neighbor. The suffering and destitute of all classes are our neigh-
bors, and when their wants are brought to our knowledge, it is our duty
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to relieve them as far as possible. A principle is brought out in this
parable that it would be well for the followers of Christ to adopt. First
meet the temporal necessities of the needy and relieve their physical
wants and sufferings, and you will then find an open avenue to the
heart, where you may plant the good seeds of virtue and religion.