Unselfishness

ANNE DODGE.

Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends," and Saint John has said, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Unselfish love stooped to lift the cross upon its own shoulders, bearing the world's hatred and ridicule all the way to the summit of Calvary,—"despising the shame." Jesus, sublime in his simplicity and meekness, endured the cross of misrepresentation and misapprehension without a murmur, rejoicing in the knowledge that he was to prove the powerlessness of hatred and malice.

What does unselfishness mean? Simply this: to lay down one's life for one's friends and the brethren, which we cannot fail to do if we love God and humanity; to take up our cross cheerfully, gladly, and courageously, following Christ; to heal the sick as he healed them; joyfully to lay down, each day, a sense of life in matter, and prove that Life is God, divine Love, full of infinite blessings, healing and saving those who receive it.

To seek to bless and to do good to those who love us, is a sweet task, and comparatively easy; but far sweeter is it to seek to bless and to do good to those who hate us and return cursing for blessing, for this is the work of unselfish love. The desire to help others, to lift their burdens, release them from the iron bonds of fear and disease, to comfort those who mourn in Zion and give them joy,—this desire can only be born of unselfish love for humanity, and is known by its fruits, for it bringeth peace.

Who can hinder us if we would follow the leadings of Love, and sacrifice self? If we would lay down a false sense of life, comprising worldliness with all its petty vanities, self-seeking, the desire for money, love of dress and display, greed, and selfish amusements,—for pure and undefiled religion, none can hinder us, and as a reward, we shall be blessed with the "Spirit without measure."

The choice lies with us. The victory over the world is the victory over self! God worketh with the holy desire that craves only to have and to give love !

It is our own fault if we are led away from the "simplicity that is in Christ," our own fault if we seek worldly and material, instead of heavenly and spiritual things,—the inheritance that fadeth not away,—and we should turn again to Christ in deepest humility, and follow Him more closely than ever before, with greater proofs of self-sacrifice, and no professions at all.

Let us keep our conversation holy, our service reasonable, and be watchful lest we profess more than we are willing to perform. Are we willing to sacrifice self for the brethren? Are we willing to give up material possessions for Christ? If so, we shall attain the kingdom of heaven where Love reigns.

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