INQUIRER: I want to ask... Before that, I want to mention that a lot of people not only in the Philippines ignore or forsake gatherings like this, like worship and going to church, but they act for the needs of our fellowmen. They have virtues, and they offer assistance to the needs of others and the community where they live. Can these be the bases for one's soul to be saved?

BRO. ELI F. SORIANO (EFS): You know, brother, if we talk about the Bible, love of fellowmen is just secondary among the commandments. Primary is love of God. Let us read Matthew 22:37-39 –

BRO. DANIEL RAZON (DSR): "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

EFS: So, it is not evil to love your neighbour, to serve like what the public officials do, like the mayors, barangay officials, barangay captain. For a parent to serve his family, work, devote his time working, that is not evil. That is the second commandment, the love of neighbour. But if you remove the number one, I don't believe that you will be justified before God. Because the number one commandment is - "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." I will give you an example. The law in Israel when they earned, say, their income is 100%, the ten percent of that is for God. That was in Israel in the past. So, God had a part even if it was only ten percent. But you want the whole 100% to be yours. It would mean that you do not acknowledge your Creator. You know, when we earn, we have strength, we can work, and we have ability in life - we owe those to God. So, if you acknowledge God, you should give Him part of your strength, life, ability, time... life, ability, time... I want to read this to all of you, Deuteronomy 8:12, onwards - listen to what the Scriptures say -

DSR:

"Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."

[Deuteronomy 8:12-18]

EFS: Look at the admonition of God to Israel, perhaps, if you have a lot of silver and gold, if you have a house, you have all things you need, your heart might say - "All of these things are because of my power, of my ability." You might become haughty and forget the Lord your God, according to the Bible. So, it is haughtiness to God if you forget Him. That He does not have part in your daily routine. That God may not have part in you, that all you do is what you want to do. What then will happen? That is haughtiness against God. You should go back to basic - why do you have strength? Because of God. Why do you have a sound mind? Others have minds that are unsound but yours is sound. You should go back to the basic, "This is given to me by God." "I have strength, this is given to me by God." Do not forget God, always go back to Him. But if you say that you do not have time for gatherings, serving God, even for praying, but then, all your life you served your fellowmen, you are very good to man, will you be saved then? Listen to what the Lord Jesus said in Luke 16:15 –

DSR: "And he said unto them,Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

EFS: Even you are the greatest man because you devoted all your life to them but you do not have time for God, you are abominable to God. Will you be saved? Listen to I Corinthians 1:19 -

DSR: "For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

EFS: That is the answer of the Bible to your question, brother.

INQUIRER: Thank you very much, Brother Eli, it is answered.