The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-09-09
TRUE SElF-OENiAL.
We Should Forget Self in Our Considera.
ton for Others.

tion for Others.
That there is a vital connection be-
tween self-denial and true discipleship
can not be questioned, for the Lord
Himself plainly says: "Whosoever he
be of you that forsaketh not all that he
hath he can not be My disciple; "and
''If any man will come after Me let
him deny himself and take up his cross
and follow Me-" But we misapprehend
very often the real meaning of the
phrase, and our acts of self-denial be-
come really self-indulgence because
they relate to self; they begin, end and
center in the very self we are supposed
to deny or cruelty.
| What is it to deny ones self for
Christ's sake and for His Gospel? We
would not depreciate or put to blush
the honest intention of a conscientious
Christian in any eff ort toward self-dis-
cipline. Far better any amount of mis-
takes made in sincere purpose to be-
come disciple indeed rather than the
easy-going Indifference of the multi
tudes who vainly imagine themselves
followers of the self-denying Jesus.
But to study this subject carefully may
relieve an prescriptions conscience
and stimulate one too indulgent.
In all affairs of practical Christian
living there is no guidance so safe and
satisfactory as that of the Lord Jesus.
Not in His words alone, for we often
misunderstood and misapply them, but
there can be no misunderstanding of
His daily life. He is pattern for us,
'leaving us an example that we should
follow in His steps" An observant
study of His life would show us how,
in common affairs, to make practical
the salvation which is ours through
faith in His name. He says: "Whoso-
ever does not bear his cross and come
after Me can not be Ny disciple
taught or trained one. So, to be taught
or trained in His own understanding of
, this grace we must follow Him in the
ways of His earthly life and see what
kind of self-denial He practiced.
: The fact most conspicuous concerning
| Him u this: Whatever He did was with
|; reference to others, not to Himself. II
> He was without place TO lay His head
I it was for our sake that He became thur
4 poor that we through His poverty
t might be rich. II He was hungry il
/ was not self-inficted fast endured fol
g some possible good to His own soul
a but because He was so busy serving
i others that He ''had no leisure so mucl
Q as to eat" If He gave up personal eas'
= and pleasant comprehensive it wa
t never done because of any virtue in sucl
d remuneration, but in order that sorrow
h ing or suffering ones might hav'
It His help. Never once in the words O
example of the Lord do we find an &C
of self-denial commended or enjoinet
Y because of any virtue in the act, or goot
Y effect upon the actor. The cross O.
a Jesus was not self-inflicted torture
> orpersonal humiliation or Qualification
o for the sake of sinful humanity He en-
dured it, despising the shame. So tn,
It ''cross' which we, His disciples, are t.
It take up daily, is not doing hard thing
n for self-cruciixion; not renouncing thi
y pleasure or that luxury because there
Ell is virtue in the renunciation-many
v one has done this with most un-C Christ
n like spiritual pride. But it is eros
d such as the Master bore in His dali,
e life with men, not pleasing Himself; en-
during for their sake distasteful asso
v Citations, putting aside ease and com
It fort to do others good.
e The true Christ-spirit is to forget sell
% in consideration for others. We doub
< if doing without something we .woul'
y enjoy merely for the sake of self-dis
$. cipline ever accomplished real benefit
re To do without in order that we ma,
1t have more to share with the needy help
n another, while it also gives breadth an,
lie depth and fullness to our own bette
lie nature. SIS this The fast that / hav
chosen, the day for man to afflict hi
soul? Is it to bow down his head as
rush and to spread saclscloth unde
N him? Is not this the fast that l hav
y chosen? to loose the bonds of wicked
Is ness, to undo the bands of the yoke
~ andto let the oppressed go free, an
Sc that We break every yoke9 Is it not t
u deal bread to the hungry, and that tho
Us bring the poor that are cast out to tn
&c house?
IN Service, like this for humanity claim
If time, money and prayer. 1t costs heart
~ pain and sacrifice of personal ease, an
l it is, we believe, this sort of self-denia
+ which Jesus announced to be the ties
a of true discipleship.-N. Y. Indepent