1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not manynoble, are called.""Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor ofthis world rich in faith, heirs of the kingdom which he hathpromised to them that love him." 1 Cor. 1:26; Isa. 2:5. Jesus wasvery poor and humble when on the earth. "The foxes have holes andthe birds of the air have nests, but the son of man hath not where tolay his head." "Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he becamepoor, that we through his poverty might become rich." As he is, soshould we be in this world.Brethren, let us now consider our love to each other. "By this shallall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one foranother." "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light." "Weknow that we have passed from death unto life, because we love thebrethren." "And this is the message that ye love one another, eventhe message that we heard from the beginning."Thus, if we are in the marvelous light of the glorious gospel ofChrist, we are loving one another; if not we are in darkness evenuntil now.Who is my brother in Christ? "He that doeth the will of my Fatherin heaven the same is my sister and brother."If what we have said concerning the poor circumstances of thecalled of God, be true, it is very easy to understand these strikingcharacters of poverty and affliction which describe thecircumstances of the majority of the called of God; and thesecharacteristics of poverty are synonymous with the tribulations andsufferings through which we must enter into the kingdom of God."And if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him." "And ifchildren, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if sobe that we suffer with him." We notice also, that some were able tofeed the hungry, and clothe the naked, and entertain the stranger,and minister to the sick and prisoner, which illustrates the love thatexists among the real brethren of Christ. "Hereby perceive we thelove of God because he laid down his life for us; and we ought tolay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world'sgoods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowelsof compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith,and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister benaked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them,depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding ye gavethem not those things which are needful to the body; what doth itprofit?" 1 John 3:16-18; James 2:14-17.Thus, we have in these two statements of the apostles, a sample offaith which worketh by love, a pure, holy love, the first fruit of theholy spirit; a love far different from the sectarian love of the presentday, that loves only its creed adherents. This love which is shedabroad in the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit which is given