Sometimes, as we commence taking up the cross, we ignore or neglect thefirst part of Jesus’ instruction. He said, “Deny [yourselves], and take up[your] cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). This self-denial isespecially challenging in a world filled with so many sensual and secularstimuli. In our time, greed and lust, though they have always been friends,have never formed quite the cartel they have formed now. It is global; it isso profitable.
Denying oneself has never been popular as a lifestyle, and it is clearly nottoday. Self-denial is portrayed by many as too puritanical and too ascetic.Scoffers have acquired powerful pulpits from which they bray theirmessage, which constantly puts down discipleship and encourages thenatural man to think highly of himself and to please himself.
What is it that we are to deny ourselves? The ascendancy of any appetitesor actions which produce not only the seven deadly sins but all the others.Happily, self-denial, when we practice it, brings great relief. It representsemancipation from all the “morning after” feelings, whether caused byadultery or gluttony. Being concerned with tomorrow, true disciples arevery careful about today! Self denial also includes not letting our heartsbecome too set on any trivial or worldly thing. Then we can learn the greatlessons about the relationship of righteousness to the powers and thejoys of heaven.
The fundamental fact is that if we do not deny ourselves, we are diverted.Even if not wholly consumed with the things of the world, we are stilldiverted sufficiently to make serious discipleship impossible. As aconsequence, all the gifts and talents God has given us are not put meeklyon the altar to serve others and to please God. Instead, we withhold toplease ourselves. Diversion, therefore, is not necessarily grosstransgression, but it is a genuine deprivation, especially if we considerwhat we might have become and what more we might have done to blessand to help others.
Ironically, the natural man, who is so very selfish in so many ordinaryways, is strangely unselfish in that he reaches for too few of the thingsthat bring real joy. He settles for a mess of pottage instead of eternal joy.
By denying the desires of the natural man to the degree that they exist ineach of us, we avoid this diversion, making it easier for us to take up thecross of discipleship. Of course, when it occurs in our lives, emancipationfrom various forms of bondage brings no celebrating parades, nor does itmake the evening news. But it is big news because we “come offconqueror” (D&C 10:5).
