(and that our friends don’t like in us), are caused by selfishness. You may al ways be a little late. The basic reason is usually caused by an unconscious at titude of, “I don’t care if I waste some one else’s time or if he’s inconven ienced.” And being annoyed by people who are late is also a mark of self. Take another example. We may agree to do something when asked, but then we proceed to apologize for how poor ly we w ill perform the job. Why? Be cause by self denunciation we subcon sciously hope to make what we do achieve seem much better. Basically, worry is selfishness? It is saying to God, “I want my way.” But there is a remedy. Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul, “/ am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” PAYING THE NATIONAL DEBT There is an interesting story being circulated in Washington about a phil anthropic bellhop, now 90 years of age, by the name of David Epstein. He has figured out his share of the national debt (which he claims is approximate ly $1600.00) and has sent a check for this amount to the United States Treas ury Department. Attached to it was a note of appreciation for having had the opportunity of living in America all these years. There is another debt which all of us owe, and which none, including the richest of all men, is able to pay. It is the debt we owe to God Himself which is not computed in dol lars and cents. Realizing our hopelessness and help lessness, the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone could pay the price has through His matchless grace, cancelled the ob ligation. Do we have a joy of heart knowing that the debt of sin has been cancelled in our lives? The only thing God owes us is our just wages for living in sin, and that is death. But praise His name, through His great love, He has extended us the priceless gift of eternal like through Jesus Christ our Lord. 35
doits price. When he went to claim the slave, he was laughed at by his new servant. “Don’t you know," he declared, “slavery is about to be abolished in England.” The Britisher smiled and re plied, “Friend, of course I do. But you don’t understand, 1 have purchased you to deliver you. You’re a free man.” For a moment the slave was stunned. Then, falling to the feet of his new master, he sobbed out, in contrition of heart, “I w ill willingly serve you for ever.” He lived in the Englishman’s house as a son and as a free man. This is what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote to the church at Borne, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:i8). OUR NEED IS OUR CLAIM A little ragged boy approached an orphan home asking for admission of the man in charge. The friendly doctor smiled kindly, “But sonny, we don’t know you. Who are you? What do you have to recommend you?” The lad thought for a moment, fruitlessly try ing to think of a relative or friend. Then with tears welling up in his eyes and streaming down his dirty cheeks he pointed to his ragged clothes and pleaded, “But mister 1 thought these would be all I needed to recommend m e” The doctor reached out and picked the pitiful little fellow up in his arms. Without any more questions he was taken in. This is true with all of us. The sinner’s need is his greatest claim on Christ. The Bible says, “We are all as an unclean thing,” and “A ll ?our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Re member the Son of man, our Lord Jésus Christ, “came to seek and to save that which was lost.” We stand before Him as this poor child, and with open arms of grace and love He says, “Come unto me.” SELFISHNESS Have you ever known anyone who, though he seemed to be generous, was still most selfish. Unfortunately, we have made generosity a synonym for unselfishness and its not always true. The things we don’t like in our friends
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