Self Control
Self Denial
Surely, one of the very greatest
issues with which every true child of God wrestles is that of his self. In our
"modern" society we now hear such terms as "the higher self" & "the lower
self." Indeed, we even hear things like, "my feminine side" from men, referring
apparently to their soft or more gentle characteristics.
Indeed, the
issue of self is so important that if any person does not rightly handle it, he
will spend eternity in a Christless lake of fire. It is for this reason that I
offer the following lecture from Mr. C. H. Mackintosh, long gone home to
glory; a brother in the Lord whose spiritual insight & wisdom far exceeds
what I currently use and enjoy. May the grace of God and the Holy Spirit bring
great glory to the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, Whose example of selflessness is
unlawful to utter it is so pure and impeccable.
'If only we exercise a
little self denial every day, we shall get on to heaven very comfortably.' What
a volume of wholesome practical truth in this brief utterance! The path of self
denial is the Christian's true path. 'If any man,' says Christ, 'will come
after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'
(Lu.9:23) It is not, 'Let him deny certain things belonging to himself.' No, he
must 'deny himself,' and this is a 'daily' thing. Each morning, as we enter
afresh upon the pathway of daily life, we have the same grand and allimportant
work before us, namely, to deny self.
This hateful self will meet us
at every step, for, although we know through grace that 'our old man is
crucified' is dead and buried out of God's sight still this is only as regards
our standing in Christ, according to God's view of us. We know that self has to
be denied, judged and subjugated every day, every hour, every moment. The
principle of our standing must be worked out in practice. God sees us perfect
in Christ. We are not in the flesh, but the flesh is in us, and it must be
denied and kept by the power of the Spirit. Be it remembered, it is not merely
in its grossness that self must be denied, but in its refinement not merely in
its low habits, but in its cultivated tastes not merely in its roughness and
rudeness, but in its most polished and elegant forms. This is not always seen.
It too often happens that, like Saul, we spare that which we consider 'the
best' and bring the sword to bear only upon 'the vile and refuse.' This will
never do. It is self that must be denied. Yes, self in all its length and
breadth not merely some branches, but the great parent stem not merely some
acccessories of nature, but nature itself. It is a comparatively easy matter to
deny certain things pertaining to self, while self is pampered and gratified
all the time. I may deny my appetite to feed my religious pride. I may starve
myself to minister to my love of money. I may wear shabby clothes while I pride
myself in sumptuous furniture and splendid equipment. Hence, the need of being
reminded that we must deny self.
Who can sum up all that is contained
in this weighty word, self denial? Self acts everywhere. In the closet, in the
family, in the shop, in the railway car, in the street everywhere, at all times
and under all circumstances. It has its tastes and its habits, its prejudices,
its likes and dislikes. It must be denied in all these. We may frequently
detect ourselves liking our own image. This must be denied with uncommon
decision. Then again in matters of religion, we like those who suit us, who
agree and sympathize with us, who admire our opinions or mode of propounding
them. All this must be brought under the sharp edge of selfdenial. If not, we
may find ourselves despising some dear and honoured Christian simply because of
something that does not suit us. On the other hand, we may praise to the skies
some hollow, worthless character, just because of some feature which we like.
Indeed, of all the ten thousand shapes which self assumes, there is not one
more hateful than that of religion. Clad in this garb it will make itself the
centre of a clique, confine its affections within that narrow enclosure, and
call that Christian communion. From this contracted circle, it will dilligently
expel everyone who happens to have a single disagreeable pain or angle. It will
obstinately refuse to accommodate itself to the scruples and infirmities of
others. As to these it will not yield a single hair's breadth, while at the
same time, it will surnder any amount of truth to hold fellowship with its own
image. All this is terrible and should be most dilligently guarded against.
If my reader will study carefully 1 Corinthians 8:10, he will find a most
precious lesson on the subject of self-denial. The heading of this entire
section might thus worded, 'Any length in self denial; not an inch in
surrendering truth' This should ever be the Christian's motto. If it be merely
a question of self, surrender all; if it be a question of truth, surrender
nothing. 'If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the
world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.' (Chap. 8:13) Noble
resolution! May we have grace to carry it out!
Again, 'Though I be
free from all, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the
more....I am made all things to all, that I might by all means save some.'
(Chap. 9:1922) 'Let no man seek his own' the very thing we are so ready to
seek. 'But every man another's wealth' the very last thing we feel disposed to
do. It is very needful to observe that when the apostle declares that he was
'made all things to all,' it was entirely a matter of selfdenial and not self
indulgence. He neither indulged himself nor surrendered a single iota of the
truth of God, but made himself a servant to all for their good and God's glory.
This is our model. May the Lord endow us with grace to imitate it! We are
called to surrender not only our points and angles, prejudices and preferences,
but also our personal rights for the profit of others. This is the Christian's
daily business, and it is as he is enabled to discharge it that he will walk in
the footsteps of Jesus and 'get on comfortably to heaven.'