| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 2 |
Page 5 |
We have no right to make life harder for others. It is a sin against humanity to do so. The law of love forbids it. He, who makes it harder for a brother to live nobly, and do his work well, has sinned against one of Christ’s little ones – therefore, against Christ Himself. We dare not go about among our fellows saying discouraging things, dispiriting things; for, if we do, we are imperiling those whose burdens are already as heavy as they can bear. One discouraging word may cause them to sink down and perish.
The law of love bids us bear one another’s burdens, and there is no other way in which we can do this so effectively as by living a life of victorious joy ourselves. He who goes among men throughout the day with glad heart and cheerful face, speaking to every one he meets some encouraging word, saying something uplifting in every ear, is a wonderful inspirer of strength, courage, and hope in men. He is a Divine minister of good to others. He makes every one a little braver and stronger. Weary plodders on the dusty way pluck up fresh energy after meeting him. Fainting ones awake to new courage when his hopeful words have fallen upon their ears. The influence of such a habitual encourager can never be measured. It is a noble thing to live thus.
There are few lessons which are needed more than this teaching that joy is a duty. The mass of Christian people seem to pay no heed to it. There really are not many joyful Christians. It would seem as if a large number of them think there is a virtue in sadness and gloom. They make no attempt to live victoriously, but yield to every discouragement, and allow it to get into their heart. Even the little ills, which full grown men should be ashamed to be affected by, they allow to master them. Even strong men are made wretched by a slight indisposition, by a little disappointment, or by hearing of some other’s success.
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