| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 1 |
Page 8 |
After all, only that life is worth living which has in it the spirit and quality of service and sacrifice. Dora Greenwell says, “I have often felt significance in the fact that nothing belonging to Christ’s kingdom tells much upon the world which has not in it the element of sacrifice, and of Christlike willingness to participate in pain. A righteous man may effect much good through beneficent deeds and wise and kind plans for the benefit of others; but it is to the man for whom some, peradventure, would even dare to die, the man who himself, if need were, would die for men, that the hearts of men cleave.”
It is only life itself that is worth giving to others. That which we do for others or give to them, and which costs us nothing, has small blessing or help in it for them. A man may speak to us eloquently; but if it is only words that he speaks, we are no richer for listening to them. Only when we serve in love, giving out life itself in our ministry, do we either find deep joy for our own heart, or make others truly happier or more blessed.
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