Have you ever met a man that was easy on himself in private, but very hard on others in public? Weren’t the Pharisees like this?
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” Matthew 25:24–25. You see why this man was serving God? Because he feared Him, not with the godly kind of fear, meaning awe or respect, but because he looked upon God as being a hard person.
Have you ever met someone like this, that was so afraid of God, that they could not truly serve Him? They were too busy trembling in their boots to have fellowship with a God of love. Some are always dwelling upon the negative aspects of the gospel- all the dos and don’ts –especially the “Thou shalt nots”- so that they don’t have any time to truly appreciate God’s mercy and love.
There is another way this fear is manifest—when we see God as being a hard person. Look for it in this next statement:
“Many who have but little of this world are represented by the man with one talent. They are afraid to trust God. They are afraid that He will require something which they claim to be their own. They hide their talent in the earth, fearing to invest it anywhere, lest they will be called to give back the improvements to God. Instead of putting the talent out to the exchangers, as God required, they bury it, or hide it, where neither God nor man can be benefited by it.
“Many who profess to love the truth are doing this very work. They are deceiving their own souls, for Satan has blinded their eyes. In robbing God, they have robbed themselves more. Because of covetousness and an evil heart of unbelief, they have deprived themselves of the heavenly treasure. Because they have but one talent, they are afraid to trust it with God, and so hide it in the earth. They feel relieved of responsibility. They love to see the truth progress, but do not think that they are called upon to practice self-denial and aid the work by their own individual effort and by their means, although they have not a large amount.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 666
“And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even al her living.” Mark 12:42–44
Are you afraid that God is going to require something of you that you don’t want to yield to Him?
On the other hand, does our relationship with God rest more on what we do for Him, or on what He has done and is doing for us?
Be careful how you answer this, because how we answer this question will really show if we are under the Old Covenant or the New Covenant. We could ask it this way: In what or whom are we trusting for our salvation—Christ, or our own obedience?
In 1888 there were three things that formed the basis of the controversy in that conference:
- Law in Galatians. Whether it was the moral or ceremonial law—it was actually both (so many were trusting in their obedience to the law, but that is living under the old covenant. Sister White only said about 12–13 years later, that it was actually both laws that were mentioned in Galatians). “ I am asked concerning the law in Galatians. What law is the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ? I answer: Both the ceremonial and the moral code of ten commandments. . . . ‘The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith’ (Galatians 3:24). In this scripture, the Holy Spirit through the apostle is speaking especially of the moral law. The law reveals sin to us, and causes us to feel our need of Christ and to flee unto Him for pardon and peace by exercising repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
“An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis against the Lord’s message through Brethren [E.J.] Waggoner and [A.T.] Jones. By exciting that opposition Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God longed to impart to them. The enemy prevented them from obtaining that efficiency which might have been theirs in carrying the truth to the world, as the apostles proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost. The light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the world.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p.233– 234
- The Covenants. Most of the leaders were trying to say that the promises and requirements of both covenants were the same, but they were wrong. The New Covenant is founded upon better promises, from a better sanctuary and a better priesthood. Something better is the theme of the book of Hebrews, and the better promises are that God’s can fulfill in us that which we could not fulfill ourselves—righteousness and obedience to His law.
- The Nature of Christ. Again many of the leaders had a completely wrong concept of the nature of Christ—with both extremes being represented—either as totally human, or totally God, but not a perfect balance between the two— 100% man and 100% God.
In the Old Covenant, what did that covenant rest upon? Upon what was it based? “Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for the earth is Mine: And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.” Exodus 19:5–8. “All that the Lord has spoken we will do and be obedient.” Were they obedient? Who can say that they have been perfectly obedient?
But what did the New Covenant rest upon? “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. ” Hebrews 8:6. Upon better promises— upon God’s promises.
If we love God, we must keep the Ten Commandments; it is righteousness to keep them.
God said, “Whom I love I rebuke and chasten.” God has promised to give us power to move mountains, and nothing will be impossible to us (Matthew 17:20). Alone we can do nothing.
“It was this that proved the ruin of the Jews, and it will prove the ruin of many souls in our own day. Thousands are making the same mistake as did the Pharisees whom Christ reproved at Matthew’s feast. Rather than give up some cherished idea, or discard some idol of opinion, many refuse the truth which comes down from the Father of light. They trust in self, and depend upon their own wisdom, and do not realize their spiritual poverty. They insist on being saved in some way by which they may perform some important work. When they see that there is no way of weaving self into the work, they reject the salvation provided.
“A legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless religion. Fasting or prayer that is actuated by a self-justifying spirit is an abomination in the sight of God. The solemn assembly for worship, the round of religious ceremonies, the external humiliation, the imposing sacrifice, proclaim that the doer of these things regards himself as righteous, and as entitled to heaven; but it is all a deception. Our own works can never purchase salvation.
“As it was in the days of Christ, so it is now; the Pharisees do not know their spiritual destitution. To them comes the message, ‘Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.’ Revelation 3:17, 18. Faith and love are the gold tried in the fire. But with many the gold has become dim, and the rich treasure has been lost. The righteousness of Christ is to them as a robe unworn, a fountain untouched. To them it is said, ‘I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.’ Revelation 2:4, 5.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 280
So what is the sacrifice that the Lord is looking for? “‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.’ Psalm 51:17. Man must be emptied of self before he can be, in the fullest sense, a believer in Jesus. When self is renounced, then the Lord can make man a new creature. New bottles can contain the new wine. The love of Christ will animate the believer with new life. In him who looks unto the Author and Finisher of our faith the character of Christ will be manifest.” –Ibid., p. 280
But the gracious God whom we serve, can He perfect that which concerns us? “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.” Psalm 138:8
What are some of the ways that we can tell that we are still looking upon God as being a hard person?
By dwelling upon all the threatenings of the Scripture, but ignoring the love of God.
By dwelling upon all the rules and regulations of the Bible but neglecting the real motivation to obey—love!
Do we really appreciate the love of God? If we did, we would show much more love than we do. We would tell others of the love of God much more than the dos and don’ts.
If we did this, the word of God would melt its way to people’s hearts. What would be the result for the church? Would we see the heathen converted and the standards of God’s word embraced? Would the church be revived and reformed?
Would we have a new and brighter experience ourselves? Yes, because salvation is a gift.
How do you feel when you receive a gift? Very happy, right? But in contrast, how do you feel when you receive wages for which you have worked? “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. Just like you were entitled to it; after all, didn’t you work for it?
When Jesus puts the crowns on the righteous people’s heads, do they say that they have deserve the crown because they have worked for it?
“Then the righteous will receive their reward. Their lives will run parallel with the life of Jehovah. They will cast their crowns at the Redeemer’s feet, touch the golden harps, and fill all Heaven with rich music.” –The Signs of the Times, April 15, 1889
If we merely look upon God as being a hard person, it shows that we have not known Him as we ought. We have been satisfied with only a superficial knowledge of our gracious God. Of course, when we only see Him as a hard person, we can only present Him to others as being a hard person. And how will people serve a hard person? Out of love, or out of fear?
Unfortunately, fear is not enough to sustain our faith. It is only love that begets love.
“Jesus did not come to men with commands and threatenings, but with love that is without a parallel. Love begets love; and thus the love of Christ displayed upon the cross woos and wins the sinner, and binds him repenting to the cross, believing and adoring the matchless depths of a Saviour’s love. Christ came to the world to perfect a righteous character for many and to elevate the fallen race. But only a few of the millions in our world will accept the righteousness and excellency of His character and fulfill the requirements given to secure their happiness.” –Confrontation, p. 72
“Love begets love. . . . Our hard hearts need to be broken. We need to come together in perfect unity, and we need to realize that we are the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Let each one say, He gave His life for me, and He wants me, as I go through this world, to reveal the love that He revealed in giving Himself for us. Christ bore our sins in His own body on the cross, that God might be just, and yet the justifier of those who believe in Him. There is life, eternal life, for all who will surrender to Christ.” –Testimonies for the Church Regarding the Spirit of Unity, p. 27–28
“The unfaithful servant was a poor, deceived, dishonest soul. He said, ‘I knew thee that thou art a hard man.’ But was this accusation true? He makes it manifest by his charge that he was not acquainted with God, and judged God to be one altogether like himself. Had he made a diligent use of his Lord’s entrusted goods, had he been thankful for the trust the Lord had reposed in him, had he qualified himself to make the best use possible of what God had given him, he would never have uttered the words, ‘Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed.’ How deceived the sinner shows himself to be! He thinks he has a perfect knowledge of God, and that he knows his own heart, when he neither knows himself nor God. His supposed knowledge is only deception. He knows nothing as he ought to know it.” –The Youth’s Instructor, December 14, 1893
May our gracious and merciful God, who is anything but a hard man, help us to know and show something of that wondrous love that He is constantly showering you and I and all the world with; that we may not deceive ourselves or others about who and what He is. And then we will represent Him as a God of love, who truly wants to save us, much more than we want to be saved. Amen
Jerry Eaton