He That Loveth Not His Brother Abideth in Death

The Lord has a message for all who are in positions of holy trust. He desires them to do honor to him by cherishing tenderness and sanctified love, by showing confidence in their brethren. In the ministration of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord uses diverse gifts; and he has not given any man authority to hold in low esteem the various instrumentalities and gifts of the gospel. He has not given any man the privilege of looking upon the Lord’s work through his appointed agencies as inferior, or the privilege of carrying things in his own way because he thinks that way superior. This is dangerous for himself and for all who are connected with him.

«He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.»

All these gifts are to be blended in the work of building a spiritual structure on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ himself is the chief corner stone, «in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.» «Fitly framed together.» Study these words, and seek to understand all they comprehend. «Fitly framed together,» each acting his respective part. Thus we grow «unto an holy temple in the Lord.» Have a care how you build. Take heed to the admonitions of the Lord. We are to work to one end, «till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.»

«For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.» Whence comes our power to work? «We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.» «God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.»

These words need to be closely studied. To those in charge of his institutions God says, You must change in heart and character. You must show that you have yoked up with Christ, to learn of him his meekness and lowliness; that you have opened the heart to the Saviour’s love, so that this love may flow forth in pure, rich currents of tenderness, courtesy, and kindly deeds. If the heart is not speedily unlocked, that Christ, the light and life of men, may take possession; if there is not a reformation in the soul, a determination to obey the injunctions Christ gave his disciples, you will lose the attributes he came to give.

There is need of far more childlike sympathy. Addressing his disciples as «little children,» Christ said to them, «A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.» By this manifestation of love «shall all men know that ye are my disciples.» This love God now demands his disciples to show for one another. He is greatly dishonored because his professed followers are drawing in selfish lines, closing their hearts to the softening, subduing influence of Christ’s Spirit, as if to show love for one another were a species of weakness. Instead of exerting the pure, holy, uplifting influence that dwelt in Christ, many are manifesting Satan’s attributes.

My brethren, how long will you be satisfied to imperil your souls by remaining unconverted, unsanctified, unholy? How long are you going to stay as you are? You may have some excellent qualifications; but if you padlock the door of the heart against Christlike love for your brethren, you do not possess the attributes that will give you an entrance into the kingdom of God.

To the church at Ephesus John wrote, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: «I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.»

Why will brethren cherish selfishness and covetousness? Why will they allow the root of bitterness to spring up in their hearts? Would it not be well to take heed to the words of the True Witness, and find out what it is that makes the hearts of brethren as hard as steel toward one another? Shall we not ascertain for ourselves whether we are destitute of love for one another? The Lord is measuring the temple and the worshipers thereof. Will you not heed his warning? He declares, «I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.»

Read the whole of the third chapter of Revelation, and seek to understand the work to be done. Those whom Christ warns have some excellent qualifications; but these are neutralized by self-love, and self-deception, self-justification for gross neglect to help their brethren in the service of God by encouraging words and deeds. There is a dead fly in the ointment. They are being weighed by One who never makes a mistake. He tells the result of actions that show that the love of Christ is not an abiding principle in the soul. The Holy Spirit has come with convicting power to God’s people; but though some stir has been made, the work of true conversion has not been perfected. Self has not yet been crucified; and until it is, hardness of heart, lack of love for one another, will be seen. You will hold to your own opinion, you will not bend from your self-exaltation to study the necessities that you should relieve. Men’s hearts become like flint when they seek to grasp all for themselves, refusing to relieve the necessities of those who are doing a severe and trying work.

God calls upon you to put away your faculty for seeing the mistakes of others. Turn your attention to your own defects. Your self-righteousness is nauseating to the Lord Jesus. He declares, «I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.»

Position does not make character. To all who are in positions of trust Christ says: «Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.» This command is an application of the great lesson of love which Christ gave the lawyer who came to him with the question, «What shall I do to inherit eternal life?» This lawyer had heard the words that just previously to this Christ had spoken to his disciples. The Saviour had been giving those who kept on his track to criticise, cavil, or condemn, unmistakable evidence that he was the Sent of God. He had healed the sick, and worked other miracles; but still the people did not believe in him, and he denounced them for their resistance of light and knowledge.

The seventy disciples, whom Christ had sent «into every city and place, whither he himself would come,» had returned with joy, saying, «Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.» Christ answered them with the words, «I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see; for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.»

The lawyer had been deeply convicted by these words; and he came to Christ with the question, «What shall I do to inherit eternal life?» Christ answered, «What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, 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.» «Thou hast answered right,» Christ said; «this do, and thou shalt live.»

Willing to justify himself, the lawyer asked, «And who is my neighbor?» In answer Christ told him of a man who had been robbed, and then left by the roadside, wounded and half dead. «And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.» Those who should have helped him did not. The looked upon their suffering fellow creature, and then passed by on the other side. Thus it is to-day. How many of those whose hearts should be tender and compassionate refuse to admit Christ into their hearts, and therefore fail to speak kindly and tenderly to those who are in trouble. Their brother may be very much in need of encouragement, but they have none to give. They have lost the dear Saviour, if they ever had him. They are strangers to his tenderness and love. A stern, cold, forbidding, steel-like spirit controls them; and works of mercy and love are barred out. All such should remember that they do not belong to Christ’s family. He does not acknowledge them as his brethren. Selfishness, self-love, is the controlling element in their lives. They do not represent the Saviour. The image of God is not stamped on the soul. —