Selfishness, not Love
Quote; “Kindly affections, generous impulses, and a quick apprehension of spiritual things are precious talents, and lay their possessor under a weighty responsibility. All are to be used in God’s service. But here many err. Satisfied with the possession of these qualities, they fail to bring them into active service for others. They flatter themselves that if they had opportunity, if circumstances were favorable, they would do a great and good work. But they are awaiting the opportunity. They despise the narrowness of the poor niggard who grudges even a pittance to the needy. They see that he is living for self, and that he is responsible for his misused talents. With much complacency they draw the contrast between themselves and such narrow-minded ones, feeling that their own condition is much more favorable than that of their mean-souled neighbors. But they are deceiving themselves. The mere possession of unused qualities only increases their responsibility. Those who possess large affections are under obligation to God to bestow them, not merely on their friends, but on all who need their help. Social advantages are talents, and are to be used for the benefit of all within reach of our influence. The love that gives kindness to only a few is not love, but selfishness. It will not in any way work for the good of souls or the glory of God. Those who thus leave their Master’s talents unimproved are even more guilty than are the ones for whom they feel such contempt. To them it will be said, ye knew your Master’s will, but did it not. {COL 352}
Quote; “Because he is not guided by right principles in little things, he fails to obey God in the great matters which he regards as his special work. The defects cherished in dealing with life’s minor details pass into more important affairs. He acts on the principles to which he has accustomed himself. Thus actions repeated form habits, habits form character, and by the character our destiny for time and for eternity is decided. {COL 356}
Quote; “It is a sin to forget, a sin to be negligent. If you form a habit of negligence, you may neglect your own soul’s salvation and at last find that you are unready for the kingdom of God. {COL 358}
We need to consider this, “The love that gives kindness to only a few is not love, but selfishness.” How easy it is to “Love” to gain an advantage, be nice and get somebody to do lots of things for you, and then we so often claim “The Glory” for accomplishing the task. How often do we “set up” family members in order to accomplish benefits for ourselves, give a little and then expect much in return. Matthew 5:43-48 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Love is meant to be “Unconditional Giving and not Just-Getting,” but “Selfish Love” is all about getting as much as you can from as many people as you can with the minimal of effort and input, it is more like a “Scam” than anything else, Is our Love for others a sham and a scam, just fake and not genuine, I want and I am determined to get, and you will willingly provide. Back to this quote; “Thus actions repeated form habits, habits form character, and by the character our destiny for time and for eternity is decided. {COL 356}
What sort of Character are we each creating? Time and Eternity is a long long time, and it is so much easier to fix it now. A Kauri tree is so easy to uproot and to throw aside when it is like a wee stake, but leave it for a long time and you have a mighty tree, almost immoveable, and if you ever remove it, then there is the evidence of the stump, then try to dig that out and you need huge machines and a few days, then you are left with a huge hole in the ground. Small things grow large, and your selfish manipulating love will grow into something most un-desirable, and almost un-removable. Quote; “There is nothing so offensive to God, or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable. {COL 154}
We can so often overlook our “pride and self-sufficiency” our “Selfish Love” and overlook that it is not “All about Me!! Matthew 5:47 MSG “Love everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.” Quote; “There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable. {COL 154} Do we always operate with Heavenly Unselfish Love, or are our Love, Deeds and Actions just purely Selfishness? Let us live Unselfishly, Godly Lives, in Christ Jesus, now and for always.
