THE MASTER’S QUESTION

Details: Published: Tuesday, 29 April 2025 03:49; Written by evalverde.com

“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Lk. 18:8).

The Lord knows that during the past few years of my ministry, more than ever before, I have asked him: “Lord why did you ask this question?” As I have continually observed the state of mental confusion which is prevalent in the world today, and more particularly, seeing the selfishness which exists among the people of God (to whom this question is directed), I have been moved by the Lord to comment about this evil. This selfishness is one of the most powerful weapons the enemy utilizes to destroy the true faith among the sons of God. Yet, I am continually reminded by the Lord that “the wise shall understand” (Dan. 12:10).

Those of us who know the Word of God understand that as the day of the Second Coming of our Lord draws near, the negative activity of the “spiritual wickedness in high places”(Eph. 6:12) becomes stronger and stronger. We have been made aware of this since the Holy Spirit warned us saying: “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Rev. 12:12).

THE EVIL OPERATION OF SELFISHNESS

One of the most powerful satanic weapons used by our enemy in his attempt to destroy the true and genuine faith of the saints of God has been selfishness. This attitude of selfishness, which is one of the many negative and innate impulses of the human condition, inevitably operates in the children of God as well. In these last days in which the return of the Lord is at hand, this evil operation of selfishness has increased tremendously among the people of God. We can understand that the question posed by our Lord Jesus Christ is directly related to this increase in selfishness.

It is true that selfishness has always existed in the heart of man. However, in this time in which the population of the world has multiplied as never before, selfishness (along with all the other negative impulses of our human nature) has increased to the point that we can refer to this last generation as “the most selfish generation.”

It should not surprise us to see this happening in a world that does not know or serve God. In fact, this is an expected result. However, it is painful to observe this diabolical current carrying away many who profess to know and serve the Lord.

We can undoubtedly understand that the Lord’s question is directed to this present generation. For this is the generation that will be alive on the day of “the appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13).

SELFISHNESS VS. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOVE

A very powerful Biblical verse clearly states: “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (1 Jn. 3:10). To love and to do righteousness are invariably linked. In order for someone to do righteousness, it is indispensable for love to be present. Whoever loves exhibits righteousness and whoever works righteousness does so because they have love. The true Christians, in whom “the first love” (Rev. 2:4), which is Christ the Lord Himself, permanently resides, demonstrate righteousness not only with those who love them but also with those who hate and persecute them. For this is the example their Master displayed when He was on the cross.

The formula on how to work righteousness is summarized in the Biblical portion which I have cited on many occasions and will continue to do so as long as I live: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:3-5).

In the Biblical passage in which the alluded-to question is posed (Lk. 18:1-14), the Lord exhorts us that as children of God we should give importance to working righteousness and to being just. Because, when a believer is imprisoned by the evil operation of selfishness, it is impossible for that person to work the righteousness of God. The believer can certainly work righteousness according to his or her own measure (2 Cor. 10:12), but this righteousness is false. It is this deceptive appearance which brings about judgment. Today, there are multitudes of professing Christians, including many ministers, who behave in this manner. These are the type of believers Paul refers to when he says that they live “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Tim. 3:5).

It is a fact that among Christianity, selfish Christians are a majority. Many of them use this fact to justify their selfishness as not being something harmful, but the normal, correct way to behave. The admonition of the Holy Spirit in the previously mentioned scripture (Phil. 2:3-5), as well as many others related to this subject, are looked upon as mere words by these selfish ministers and Christians. They hear them, read them and even preach about them very naturally, without seeing their own selfishness, much less repenting of it.

The “denying of one’s self (Lk. 9:23), the “looking not every man on his own things,” (Phil. 2:4), the example given to us by the apostles and by the Lord Himself does not carry great importance to these selfish Christians. Their main interest is to acquire wellbeing and happiness for themselves and their loved ones. Their ministers seek out honor, authority, benefits and the prosperity of their congregation or religious organization. Yet, the mind that was in Christ the Lord, to deny one’s self in favor of others, is beyond their understanding.

THE CURSE OF HUMAN HAPPINESS

It is quite possible that more than a few people may disagree with the above subtitle. But spiritually speaking, this declaration is the undeniable truth. It was true in the time of ancient Israel and remains true presently among them. In like manner, it has been true among most Christians. In the almost half century of my walk with God, I have witnessed many believers in the Lord Jesus who have been overcome by this curse. In the beginning of their spiritual journey, when they were living in misery or in bad health, they walked with the Lord without selfishness. Once they obtained human happiness, they ceased to walk unselfishly.

Throughout the ages, God has demanded self-denial from His people. He has always required it from the Jewish people, but now He has also demanded it from the members of His church during the time of Grace manifested by the Gospel. In order for each one of us to have begun our walk with the Lord, we had to invariably understand and individually accept the divine prerequisite:“If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23).

Our Lord Jesus Christ did not only demand this self-denial from His true followers, but He Himself, being God “manifest in flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16),who “being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8).Therefore, He gave us the highest example of self-denial when He came into this world “not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). If His supreme example does not stir up or convince the egocentric Christian of today to repent from his or her selfishness, then what else can?

The reality is that selfishness has no place in true Christianity. The foundation of true Christianity is based on giving and not receiving. This fundamental truth was demonstrated with all seriousness by the apostles and by many of the Christians of the early church. They were willing to deny themselves, even to the point of martyrdom and death, because of their love for the Lord. But as the centuries have passed this divine commandment has increasingly been ignored, particularly among Christians who have had the opportunity to enjoy happiness and human comfort.

From the moment that selfishness is an attitude which exists in our human nature, the possibility remains for it to subtly operate, even in the life of a faithful Christian. This cunning deception can exist in the believer, even to the point that they may be counted among the selfish without even realizing it. It is painful to see the great number of sincere and faithful Christians unconsciously being carried away by the impetuous current of selfishness which prevails among the people who profess to know the Lord.

THE MOST SELFISH GENERATION

Solomon said that in his times he enjoyed everything that a man could desire under the sun. He never imagined that in the future, because of scientific advancement (Dan. 12:4), there would be an unprecedented amount of things available to capture our human desire. Precisely for this reason, selfishness, which is self- gratification, has converted this present generation into the most selfish generation of all times. In contrast, self-denial, which is generosity, is ignored at all levels of society and greed reigns in the world like never before.

Abundance, complacency and pleasure have become a curse, most particularly in the Western nations. There is no doubt that these nations are prosperous materially and even appear to be spiritually fine. Yet, in reality, they are wretched and miserable. As never before this is the generation which arrogantly declares: “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” However, the Holy Spirit continues to admonish saying: “thou knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17).

Now, more than ever before, the desire of humanity is to satisfy their appetite for carnal pleasures by acquiring comfort and other various forms of self-gratification. This hunger grows particularly after they have seen so many others obtain it. However, even though the most prosperous of them obtain great riches, their selfish appetite for self-gratification is not satisfied. In fact, this “abundance” has produced a wave of universal degradation in which television has played a unique role. I have noted that even among communities of miserably poor persons, living in run-down shacks, the inhabitants may not have enough to eat, yet each family has their own television and some even have internet. This is how humanity has been dragged down to sexual perversion, to vices, to drugs, to violence and to many more unspeakable forms of wickedness.

Television and the internet, along with many other means of communication, are being used today by the devil to provoke selfishness and self-gratification not only in the lives of multitudes who do not serve God, but also among the people of God. As a result, there exists presently a selfish Christianity which live their lives as a “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). They have everything and know everything, yet their lives are hollow. Using this strategy, the devil has succeeded like never before in these last days to destroy the faith in the lives of multitudes of those who serve the Lord Jesus.

The Divine question which we have considered here is terrible. It is frightening! It deals directly with the Christianity of these last days. Those that are “wise” (Dan. 12:10) will heed with all seriousness the voice of the Lord. The situation is very dangerous. We cannot be over confident. Upon considering this explanation, we should cry out from the depths of our soul: “Lord, deliver us from this cursed selfishness and self-gratification, and allow us to retain your true faith until Your Coming, which is at hand!”

THE MASTER’S QUESTION

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