____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ January 18, 2004 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Love "Seeketh Not Her Own" (Tom Edwards) 2) Never Too Old Too Improve (Tom Edwards) ____________________________________________________ -1- Love "Seeketh Not Her Own" by Tom Edwards Love, like a diamond, has many sides. Another of those facets we will now consider in 1 Corinthians 13:5: love "seeketh not her own," which is translated in the NIV as, love "is not self-seeking"; and the RSV, love "does not insist on its own way." Simply put, love is not selfish; rather, it is sacrificial and self-denying. Think for a moment of the sacrificial love that God has shown to the world: "By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 Jn. 4:9-11). "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do what I command you" (Jn. 15:12-14). Because of God's sacrificial love for us, it should prompt us to want to have the same kind of love in return and not be selfish people, always insisting on our own way. The Bible says, "And He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf" (2 Cor. 5:15). Living for God is what our new life as a Christian is to be all about -- a spiritual life that began when we arose from water baptism: "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3,4). One's new life in Jesus begins after baptism -- not before. For baptism puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26,27); and when one is "in Christ," one becomes "...a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Cor. 5:17). Selfishness can pop up its ugly head in many different ways. It is often seen among young, immature people. For instance, the story has been told about a very young boy and his sister who were riding on a new wooden horse that they had received as a present. For a while both rode it together, but then the boy turned around and said, "If one of us would get off there would be more room for me." I also read of a group of first graders who were on a class trip to a dairy farm in Milwaukee. The guide had taken them through the entire plant and explained everything. When the tour was over, the guide asked the young children if any of them had any questions. One little girl raised her hand and asked, "Did you notice that I've got on my new snow suit?" We find this amusing, but how many times does it really typify how we often are? Are we not usually more concerned for our own affairs than that of others around us? This is not how it should be, however. Paul writes, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil. 2:3,4). I would say this is contrary to the way most people behave. Selfishness seems to abound in our world, and William E. Gladstone once referred to it as "the greatest curse of the human race." So, it is not just young, immature children who have been characterized by selfishness; but also those of us who should know better. James states: "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing" (Jms. 3:14-16). According to this passage, selfishness opens the door to many wicked things. Like pride, it is the source of many sins. There is also usually much disorder when everyone selfishly wants his or her own way. The command not to be selfish is implied in the second greatest commandment: to love one's neighbor as oneself. Consider also Romans 15:1-3: "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, `The reproaches of those who reproached Thee fell upon Me."' If we would do the contrary, however, to simply ignore others, then -- in addition to rejecting the Lord's command, which would be the worst fault of all -- Charles H. Parkhurst's remark would probably also apply: "The man who lives by himself and for himself is likely to be corrupted by the company he keeps." If we are not striving to live for others in our service to God then we are failing in that service and will be found incomplete. As Christians, we are to serve one another. Selfishness has been illustrated by comparing it to the Dead Sea. It is said of this sea that it receives all, but gives nothing. Measured at 47 miles long, 10 miles wide, and 1,292 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is not only the hottest, but also the lowest place on earth. It receives 6,000,000 tons of water daily from the Jordan River, but gives none out to rejuvenate its surroundings. Its waters are several times saltier than the ocean, and tastes bitter, feels oily, and leaves a yellow stain. No fish can live in it. No flowers bloom or fruits grow on its shores. No birds will be found singing in its neighborhood. It is a scene of desolation and gloom. If we only take, but don't give, will we be any better than this lifeless sea at the southern extremity of the Jordan River? John writes: "But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth" (1 Jn. 3:17,18). God's love cannot be contained merely for oneself -- it must also be shared! Someone once asked a physician, "Doctor, what is the exact significance of God's touching Jacob upon the sinew of his thigh?" The doctor answered by saying, "The sinew of the thigh is the strongest in the human body. A horse could scarcely tear it apart." To this, one responded: "Ah, I see. God has to break down at the strongest part of our self-life before He can have His own way of blessing with us." Yes, selfishness will close the door of God's blessings in our life. We must, instead, give self for Christ -- our will for God's will. Truly, we see this in the apostle Paul: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me" (Gal. 2:20). Until we can break down the sinew of selfishness and learn to be more selfless toward others, we won't be as much use to the Lord. Furthermore, "He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses" (Prov. 28:27). "But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation" (Rom. 2:5-8). Someone once said that "The smallest package we have ever seen is a man wrapped up in himself." That certainly is not the way we are to be; but, rather, we are to "Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2). It takes a spirit of unselfishness to do that. The Bible abounds with examples of unselfishness: Abraham toward Lot (Gen. 13:5-9), for instance. The possessions of Abraham and his nephew Lot had been so great that they could no longer dwell together. Abraham, therefore, gave his nephew the first choice of the land, saying, "...'Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me: if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.' And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere...like the garden of the Lord...." Abraham unselfishly allowed Lot to take what initially appeared to have been the best choice of the land. Many of the early Christians also manifested a great unselfishness in the benevolence they gave toward their destitute brethren. "For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostles' feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need" (Acts 4:34,35). And not only through giving of money, but also giving of their time was another way in which they showed selflessness. Paul states, for example, in Romans 16:3,4: "Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles." That was certainly a sacrificial dedication on this couples' part. Paul, too, is quite an example of one who was willing to even suffer for the sake of others. That's how unselfish he was. "Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved" (1 Cor. 10:33). With their spiritual welfare in mind, Paul did what he could to win them to Christ and build them up in the faith without ever compromising the truth (Gal. 1:10). His life was an unselfish sacrifice for God and for others. We can learn much from him. So let us each remember this sacrificial trait of love, and practice it in our lives -- for love is unselfish. ____________________________________________________ -2- Never Too Old To Improve by Tom Edwards With Christ for our impeccable example, we are never too old to better ourselves, while we have the capability. This is so because there is always more room for development when we have set our eyes on Jesus for our perfect role model. For even if we strove for 100 years to become more like Him (and we most certainly would), still, would we not fall short of His ultimate perfection? But, even so, we press on daily, striving to be better, to be more like Him, and, thus, improving our lives -- and helping others to improve theirs, as well. Years ago, I heard of an interview that a person had with Pablo Casals, a world renowned cellist. It was while on Casals 75th birthday when the interviewer asked him why he still found it necessary to practice the cello for four hours each day. His response to this is humbling, encouraging, and filled with determination: "Because," Casals answered, "I think I'm making some progress." Though this man had already achieved world-wide acclaim for his musical talent, he still saw the possibility for improving his skill. Shouldn't this also be true of us? We, too, can strive to hone whatever talents we have, which can be used in our service to the Lord. For to do better than our best is not an impossibility -- it is an improvement. And this we can do if we diligently work at it. Perhaps this reminds you of the words of the persevering apostle Paul. He states in Philippians 3:12-14: "Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." As good of a man as Paul was -- sacrificial (as we considered in the previous article) and truly dedicated to Christ, even if it meant suffering on the Lord's behalf -- still the apostle knew that he was not perfect in the same sense that Jesus was and is perfect. But throughout his life, Paul strove for that; and by so doing he was able to say near the close of his life, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7,8). Paul was in for "the long haul" and faithfully maintained that relationship He had with God. This needs to be true for each of us as well, and may we realize that while we have the potential, we are never too old to improve. The apostle Paul knew that even when he was weak (physically), he was strong (spiritually) (2 Cor. 12:10). So even with waning health, Paul knew that that could not hinder his growth in Christ. May we each wisely use the time that God has given us "to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior" (2 Pet. 3:18) that our lives can be made the better for it -- regardless of our age. ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________