Selfishness Withers and Dies
Beneath Calvary By John MacDuff For even Christ did not please
himself. Romans 15 3 Too legible are the characters
written on the fallen heart and a fallen world. All seek their
own. Selfishness is the great law
of our degenerated nature. When the love of God was dethroned
from the soul, self vaulted into the vacant seat, and there, in
some one of its ever-changing shapes, continues to reign. Jesus stands out for our imitation
as a grand solitary exception in the midst of a world of selfishness. His entire life was one of abnegation
of self, a beautiful living embodiment of that love which seeks not
her own. Ah, how different is the spirit
of the world! with how many is day after day
only a new oblation to that idle self, pampering their own wishes,
and envying and grieving at the good of a neighbor, thus engendering
jealousy, discontent, peevishness, and every kindred and holy passion. But you have not so learnt Christ. Reader, Have you been sitting
at the feet of Him who pleased not Himself? Are you dying daily,
dying to self as well as to sin? Are you animated with this as
the high end and aim of existence, to lay out your time and talents
and opportunities for God's glory and the good of your fellow men,
not seeking your own interests, but rather relinquishing these,
if by doing so another will be made holier, and your Saviour
honoured. Christ's denial of self had about
it no repulsive austerity, and you can evidence its holy influence
and sway by innumerable little offices of kindness and goodwill,
taking a generous interest in the welfare of others, or engaging
in schemes for the mitigation of human misery. Avoid ostentation,
which is only another repulsive form of self. Be eager to be
in the shadows. Sound no trumpet before you. The evangelist Matthew had a
great banquet for Jesus at his house, but in his gospel he says
not one word about it. seek to live more constantly
and habitually under the constraining influence of the love of Jesus. Selfishness withers and dies
beneath Calvary. Ah, believer, if Christ had pleased
himself, where would you have been this day?