Although perhaps the results of the work of the Bible Students' Class for last month are some of the briefest we have had, and although the subject itself is rather a selection than an exhaustive summary, we are sure that it is one of the most practical that we have had. We regret somewhat that the exact scope of the subject was not more precisely indicated at first, but still we feel sure that the result arrived at is full of interest and teaching for all who will study it.
In this article, with but a limited space at our disposal we can do little more than indicate one of the ways in which a subject like this may be made of real practical value. We would first of all for readier reference tabulate it afresh as follows:
Where a name occurs more than once it is in capitals.
In this list we find ten sins, the first of which is fear.
We have a list of five overcome by this sin and of five who overcame it: In our list at any rate it is the most besetting sin, there being ten examples given of it. It so constantly attacks each one of us that we must know by this time whether we are among the conquerors or conquered of this particular vice. In one sense it is the last sin that ought to have any power over the christian, who is positively delivered from all fear. He has no fear of God save a reverential fear, and he has no fear of the future, no fear for the past, no occasion any longer to fear the world to which he is crucified, the flesh which he has not only the authority but power to treat as dead (Rom. 6) as no longer himself (Rom. 7), or the devil from whose power he has been delivered (Heb. 2) What then has one who is " more than a conqueror " to fear? Alas! alas! too often the fear of ridicule, of coldness, of losing a friend, of appearing strange, of receiving a rough answer, is sufficient to overcome the one who should fear nothing. In the list of those who were overcome we find the greatest saints-Abraham, the friend of God, father of the faithful, Peter the great apostle of the circumcision; in the ranks of the overcomers we find some but little known, such as the three Hebrew children. We learn from this that it is not our reputation nor Christian standing that can avail us here in the presence of the enemy; it is solely by having God's strength perfected in our weakness. It is a true saying that we cannot fear both God and man, and these who were delivered from fear of the latter were truly God-fearing men. Observe, too, the wonderful rewards God gives to these over-corners. We know the bright reward Caleb and Joshua got, the only two whose feet trod both the brick kilns of Egypt and the vine-clad hills of Palestine; not even to Moses and Aaron was vouchsafed such a reward: and surely none of us can forget that fourth form that was seen in the fiery furnace with His three beloved servants who knew not what fear meant. A further study of the subject will reveal the fact that it is in little things we fail most, and that many a man who if tried would make a true and noble martyr, fails from day to day to glorify God from fear of trifles.
The next on the list is our great adversary himself. What a terrible thing to find Eve, David and Judas side by side as being all directly overcome by the temptation of Satan, whereas the solitary one who overcame all his wiles (for even Job succumbed at last) was the Lord Jesus Christ. The teaching of this is evident. For warning let us search out the causes by which the former were overcome; and for power let us study the means by which our Savior overcame.
Pride, the next sin, claims many victories, and (singular to say) all of them are kings. What a warning lies here to those who are rich, or in any position above others, especially to guard against this sin; but further, what a warning against that deadlier and subtler form of this evil-spiritual pride. The treachery of this sin lies in the fact that while outwardly a man seems to be conquering pride in its worldly form, it is all the time being secretly nurtured and yielded to in another way. Many who outwardly appear to be servants of all, yet fall victims to spiritual pride.
The next sin, covetousness, furnishes us with a list of six victims, but we have no example of an overcomer. This sin Paul singles out in Rom. 7 in speaking of the law, as one particularly hard to resist. Stealing, murder, and such sins require actions, but this in its beginning at any rate, is a subtle sin of the heart, and we feel sure that many who are not yet openly victims to it, still suffer great spiritual damage through harboring in some way a covetous spirit.
Among the victims of fleshly lusts we find David; among the overcomers Joseph and Daniel. We have already seen the former overcome by the devil as here by the flesh, whereas Daniel successively overcomes the world (love of money) the flesh (as here) and the devil as a roaring lion seeking to intimidate him a bright example for the Christian now. Let us beware of, " fleshly lusts " which war against the soul. Sad indeed is the next list of poor victims to a " desire to please." One who desires to please his fellow men, whether from mere amiability, or from selfish motives, is in a dangerous path. We find Aaron the saint of the Lord, Samson the strongest man, Solomon the wisest man, and Peter first of the apostles, in the same list as Pilate, all being tripped up by this insidious sin. It is not that we are to be disagreeable or disobliging, let no one think this; but rather that our motto is to be " we ought to please God, rather than man."
Lower down we find Moses, the man of God, twice tripped up; on one occasion through acting without God's word, on the other through acting contrary to it. What a warning this is to us, against acting hastily from apparently the best of motives, unless we are sure we have God's mind in the matter; and on the other hand, what blessings we see forfeited through simply giving way to temper. Surely the lives of these men of God are thus sketched out before us for our deepest instruction in these days. Who would think that David, Moses and Peter should be the ones to fail twice when tempted?
The closing thought, and perhaps the most important one that we would suggest to our readers is this-In which column of this list do I come? Am I an overcomer or a victim? Do I give way to the temptations of Satan, of my fleshly lusts, or of the world in any shape or form? Am I led astray by pride, covetousness, or fear, or a desire to please others? Just as the names are tabulated above, so surely are our names recorded either as overcomers or the reverse. Surely a consideration of this subject must lead each of us to seek for more power from God to stand against temptation. And if still further incentive is needed we have but to read the list of special rewards promised to the overcomers of various temptations in Rev. 2, 3 to show us how much God thinks of a man who can stand steady when surrounded by evil.
Is not this, beloved reader, a special word for you and me at the beginning of another year? It will be undoubtedly a year of temptation. Oh! that it may be a year of overcoming, of being " more than conquerors" through Him that loved us.
We would recommend each one, in conclusion, specially to study one point on which we have not touched at all, and that is the various means which these overcomers in our list used to obtain the victory, for being in like circumstances, the same weapons will serve us now.