For the Good of Another
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24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
Introduction
Lexham Theological Wordbook (ζητέω)
(zēteō). vb. to seek. To seek what is lost, what is due. The word implies serious effort.
24 Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor]. AMP
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that Agape “seeketh not her own”.
When I look for an evangelist to come and preach meetings, this is the first thing I look for. A preacher who is concerned about others.
All of the men who are coming in July exemplify that.
It is natural to care for yourself, and to do what is easiest and best for you and your family.
It is an attribute of God to seek the good of another. Especially if that other person will never reciprocate in any meaningful way.
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
When you treat others as you would your own you are placing them on the same rank as your own. This is why so may people refuse to do it.
Hierarchy Definition:
A system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
(Lobsters)
This explains why there are still dictators today.
The most famous example of a hierarchy is the Roman Catholic Church.
278 Now, now, instead of fellowship and brotherhood amongst brothers, they give them a hierarchy, pope. And you got a bishop, tells you what you can do and what you can’t. And you Pentecostals has got a district presbyter that tells you who you can have in. But the Church has Christ. See?
62-0422 — The Restoration Of The Bride Tree
Christ has a body, not a hierarchy.
That’s why no man can ever come along and say the holy man is a pope or the holy man is a bishop or priest. The HOLY MAN is Christ, the Holy Spirit, in us.
How dare the hierarchy declare the laity has no word to say? Each one has something to say. Each has a work, each has a ministry. The Holy Ghost came at Pentecost and separated Himself on each, that it might be fulfilled whereof Christ said, “At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.” John 14:20.
The Great I Am, the Almighty God, has come as Spirit to fill His true church. He has a right to move anywhere He wants to, and upon anybody He wants to.
We don’t make any “holy men” amongst us, but the whole true congregation of the Lord is holy, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is He, the Holy Spirit, that is holy, not the congregation of itself. CAB-01 — 1 - The Revelation Of Jesus Christ
Now it is a well known historical fact that when this error crept into the church, men began to vie for the office of bishop with the result that this position was being given to the more educated and materially-progressive and politically-minded men. Human knowledge and program began to take over Divine wisdom’s place and the Holy Spirit no longer controlled. This was indeed a tragic evil, for the bishops began to maintain that it no longer required a transparent Christian character to minister either the Word or the rites in the church for it was the elements and the ceremony that counted. This allowed evil men (seducers) to rend the flock.
With the man-made doctrine of the elevation of bishops to a place not accorded them in Scripture, the next step was the handing out of graded titles that built up into a religious hierarchy; for soon there were archbishops over bishops and cardinals over the archbishops and by the time of Boniface the third there was a pope over all, a Pontiff.
CAB-05 — 5 - The Pergamean Church Age
Denominations are not of God. They never have been and never will be. It’s a wrong spirit that separates the people of God into hierarchy and laity; and it’s, therefore, a wrong spirit that separates the people from the people. That’s what organization and denominations do. In organizing they separate themselves from the Word of God, and bring themselves into spiritual adultery.
CAB-05 — 5 - The Pergamean Church Age
We are a body, and the only way up is down.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
― John Wesley
85 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 It come in the Lamb of God. 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, and you don’t live for yourself no more. You live for others.
86 Someone said, “How can you stand, let anybody 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, the church has forgot they were sons. You’re a son. You’re taking Christ’s place. You’re a son, 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. Live for that person who would 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, you, that’s in your 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. 60-0925 — That Day On Calvary