Eternal Life is Living for Others
Spiritual Building-Stone No. 181
St.Matthew 25:40, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of theses my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Listen to what the Prophet of God has said about it:
The Lord Jesus Christ was just one Man, the perfect Man (Phil. 2:5-8). He gave His life, and He made an example for you.
Now, what must we do. Now, the first thing I want to say is: Jesus never lived for Himself. His Life was spent for others. That's perfectly Eternal Life. When you say you go to church and you do good things, that's fine. But when you live your life to yourself, you haven't Eternal Life. Eternal life is living for others.
It proved it when He come in the Lamb of God (John 1:29). He lived and had Eternal Life, because He did not live for Himself. He lived for others. And you receive Eternal Life by receiving that day on Calvary, and you don't live for yourself no more. You live for others. [1]
Now, we're thankful for doctors, and so forth, who can give us medical aid, and set bones, pull teeth, and so forth, but them's all right. Doctors are God's servants to the people, and they help people. In the hospitals and institutions, we're very thankful to have them. And I have nothing against them; the only thing I do is pray that God will continue to help them. For anything that'll help bless, or do anything to help people, I'm for it. And I know God is with any movement that's trying to help people.
That's what we should do always, is try to do something to help somebody else. After all, that's the Christian attitude towards things.
This is a great heavy burden that no one knows nothing about. That's just God and I alone. But when I do get to go to bed, what a wonderful privilege I have to kneel down before God and say, "Father, I've done the best that I know how today. I've done all that I know how to make life just a little more pleasant for people." And I'm sure that His blessings returns and returns and makes life a little more pleasant for me (Eccl. 11:1). If you want to do something for God, do something for His people. You want something good said about you, say something good about someone else. Bless someone else, and as you're blessing someone else, you're blessing God. For Jesus said, "Insomuch as you have done unto the least of these, My little ones, you have done it unto Me." (Matth. 25:40). So, we know that that is the truth. [2]
Jesus said at that day He would separate the people like the sheep and the goats, and He would say to the goats, "Stand on the left side," and to the sheep, "Stand on the right side." (Matth. 25:37-40). And He said to the goats, "Depart from Me, because I was hungry and you didn't feed Me. I was in prison, and you did not visit Me. I was naked, and you clothed Me not. I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink. I was sick, and you didn't visit Me. So depart from Me." And on the sheep, He said, "I was hungry and you fed Me. I was naked and you give Me clothing. I was sick and you ministered to Me." And notice, don't fail to get this, church. Keep this in your heart forever. It was so unconsciously done. The people don't do it for a line of duty. A man that gives you something or other because he ought to do it, a man that feeds you because he ought to do it, he's got a selfish idea. It should be your very life, your very action.
It was so surprising to these sheep that they said, "Lord, when were You hungry and we wouldn't feed You? When were You hungry, and we fed You? When were You naked, and we give You clothes? When were You thirsty, and we give You drink? When were You sick, and we ministered to You?" It was so automatically, out of love, it's just their life lived in them.
God, let the people see what Calvary did for us. So automatically, "When were You, Lord. We never knew that."
Look what Jesus turned and said, "Insomuch as you have done unto these, you did it unto Me." Unselfish life, not the second thought, not to think about it; but you are so dead to the things of this world, and so alive in Christ, and so walking on the highway (Isaiah 35:8), that these things are just an automatic thing. You just do it. [1]
And the only way that I can help you, is for you to believe me, that I'm telling the truth about Jesus Christ, the only way that help can come.
If I wouldn't be a minister, I'd want to be a doctor, or something like that, so I could help somebody, help do something.
A young man waited on us this morning, when I'd run out of gasoline. He's studying to be a doctor. And I told him who I was. I said, "Sir, if my boy wouldn't be a minister, I want him to be a doctor. I want my girls to be nurses or something."
You don't know the joy it is, not to help yourself, but to help others. You really have joy then when you can help somebody. And I know that you know what I'm talking about (Proverbs 11:25). [3]
I keep my meetings little and like that to keep from even having big meetings and things. I don't have radio, television. I just let it go. See? 'Cause I don't want to be something in the picture of the world. I want to be God's servant to speak what He tells me to speak. See? And say what He says say, that when I come there that day, I want to hear Him say, "It was well done." (Matth. 25:23). That's what I want to hear. That's what I live for. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have my little babies and things setting down yonder tonight and crying for me. See? I'd be down there with them. I'm here to try to help somebody for the glory of God. [4]
I believe it's regarded somewhere in the Bible as some sort of a gift, but whatever it is, it's a small and that ain't the significance of it (I Cor. 12:28). It's what we can do to help somebody to get closer to God. [5]
The powers and gifts of God are not to show off with. They're to serve God by (I Peter 4:10-11). They're for the glory of God to do something to help somebody, not to come out like a stuffed-shirt and saying, "Me, my, great..." That's not it. When a man does that, he's little in my sight. Who is great? One, God. [6]
Now, friends, this is nothing to do with me or any individual. I’m trying my best with all I know how to do to make life a little easier for my fellow man: to get them to believe on the Lord, be born again of His Spirit; and to pray for the sick when they’re need; and to help them, make life a little better.
I’m asking you people here tonight, as my dear friends in Christ Jesus, that you’ll stand by me in prayer during this time. I’m not here for a stage show. I’m only here to do the best that I know how to make life a little easier, and to make people a little happier, to bring converts to Jesus Christ. [7]
Let's put our arms around one another and say, "Let's be brethren; let's help somebody. Let's make life a little easier. These people ain't going to be here very long. Let's just try to make it just as easy for them. If the osteopathic, chiropractor, whatever it is, if it can help you, go ahead and do it; that's fine. Give God the praise." That's exactly.
If somebody comes through with a gift of healing, faith, well, don't give the man praise; give God praise (I Cor. 4:7; II Cor. 10:17-18). If the doctor can set your arm when it's broke, and fix it up, make it real straight, and God heals it, give God praise. That's right. If the chiropractor... You got a dislocated spine, he can straighten the back up and make you walk right again, give God praise, not the man. See? Let's all get together. And all that is coming from God. "All good and perfect gifts comes from God," God alone. (James 1:16-17). [8]
Now, the thing of it is, I think, if our motives is right, and our hearts are right for the people, we ought to all work together to help our fellow man, to make it an easier life. And then your motives is unselfish, giving praise to God Who gives all things freely. Amen. Yes, sir. Oh, we should not have any selfishness nowhere; it should be perfect. [9]
I am here to help you. And if I can't help you, or do something for you we’ll make life's burdens a little easier for the Christians, and bring the sinner to Christ, I'm a total failure for the Kingdom of God. And I certainly want to be a blessing to God, as He is our strength and life and help (Ps. 27:1). [10]
A person who lives their life for theirself, lives a selfish life. We must live for others: “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fullfil the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). And we got to have a feeling for one another. And therefore, when you do all you know how to do, then when you do lay down at night, well, you have the consolation knowing that you tried your best.
I can’t make everyone believe. That’s impossible. Jesus couldn’t do that when He was on earth. And I know there’ll just be a few that believes (Matt. 7:13-14; II Thess. 3:1-2). But if anything I can add to help the Gospel, that’s my duty of being here, is to try to help somebody along the way. [11]
I certainly appreciate you and love you with warm Christian love. If any time I can be a favor to you, call me, or write me. I'll do anything that lays within my power to help you make life a little easier for you, and the rough places a little smoother. Anytime I can pray for you or do anything for you, let me know. [12]
Now, He was the Rock (I Cor.10:1-4). God smote Him for us, and He gave forth abundance of pure, clean water. He does yet today to everyone that will believe (John 7:37-39). This is His grace, of course, to His people, us.
Speaking of the people of Israel at the exodus: There's something like there like the people of today, ready to receive what they can get, but don't want to give any service in return. Israel was ready to drink from the rock now. But they didn't want to give God His service that was due Him.
And He's always giving us a service. You know, we can't even breathe without Him. We can't breathe without God's service. That's how dependent we are on Him. And yet, it almost breaks us in two if we try to do--have to do something for Him; He asks us to do something, go see somebody, go pray for somebody, go help somebody. It's almost breaks us up to do it. But we don't want to do anything to Him for service. (Mark 14:6-9). [13]
A few days ago I was sitting talking to my loyal little friend here in the city, a medical doctor, Sam Adair. And he said, “How are you doing, Bill?”
And I said, “Oh, pretty fair, I suppose, Doc.” I said, “Yourself?” And he said, “Oh, a lot of patients.” Said, “I had fifteen examinations this afternoon.”
I said, “Well, that’s good as long as it’s just examinations and finding nothing wrong.” I said, “You know, the....” We got talking about back when we were boys. And I said, “Well, Doc, I don’t know just how long I’m going to be around. We’re both in our fifties.”
And he said, “That’s true, Bill.”
I said, “But all these years, about thirty-one years of ministry now, I have kept my heart prepared for that hour when He comes. So it doesn’t matter when He comes.”
So he said, “That is true.”
I said, “The greatest thrill I have is living for others.”
And he said, “That’s what makes life real, is not what you can do or accomplish for yourself, but what you can do for others.”
See, that’s when you’re really living. And if there happens to be someone among us who has never did that---tried to live for somebody else---give that a try. And just see how much more life holds for you when you will not live for what you can get yourself out of life, but what you can give someone else in life. And you’ll find that it’s more blessed than riches or anything that can be thought of, is what you can do for someone else to make life’s burdens.... Which, life in itself is a burden. And it will make it a little lighter for someone else. You just don’t know the joy unless you’ve tried it once, to do something for someone else.
And then that brings me to thinking of thirty-one years (will be soon) of ministry for the Lord. And I guess every man thinks of sometime when he has to come to his last service and come to his last hour, and look back down the path and see what has been accomplished, see what’s went on, have you did anything. And as I have just said, it’s what you do for others that counts.
I often wonder what would be when I got to the end of my road, which we don’t know what time that will be, none of us. So I was thinking about looking back down along the trail where I’ve come through life, and seeing the different hills, and briar patches, and rocks, and hard places and smooth runnings, and what I did in those kind of times. It’ll all show up one of these days at the hour of my going away. And it’ll do that on each one of us. We will all be sure of that, that it’ll show up to each one when that time comes. [14]
Someone said, “How can you stand and let anyone call you such bad names?” You don’t live for yourself. You live for others that you might redeem that man. You become sons. And the trouble of it is that the church has forgot they were sons. You are sons. You’re taking Christ’s place. You are sons; so don’t live for yourself; live for others!
“Well, Brother Branham, I can live for this brother because he sure is a nice man.” That’s not it. Live for that man who hates you (Matt. 5,43-48). Live for that person who’d kill you if they could. That’s what they done to Him. They killed Him, and He died that He might save them. That’s Eternal Life. When that’s in you bosom, you’re facing heaven then. But you sacrifice your own things, give them up like the sheep gives its wool. You look on towards Calvary. [1]
References:
[1] “That Day On Calvary”, pg. 15-16
[2] “Our Hope Is In God” (51-0929), par. E-4 – E-5
[3] “Jesus Christ The Same” (55-1113), par. E-14
[4] “Abraham” (56-1208), par. E-73
[5] “Balm In Gilead” (61-0218), par. E-4
[6] “Be Not Afraid” (61-0224), par. E-29
[7] “Sirs, We Would See Jesus” (54-0328), par. E-31 / E-5
[8] “Shepherd Of The Sheepfold” (56-0403), par. E-30
[9] “Teaching On Moses” (56-0513), par. 35
[10] “Voice Of The Sign” (64-0214), par. 3
[11] “At Thy Word” (50-0714), par. E-3
[12] “It Is I” (61-0517), par. E-6
[13] “Broken Cisterns” (64-0726E), par. 98-100
[14] “Revelation Ch.5 Pt.1, Bruised Serpent” (61-0611), par. 12-20