| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 5 |
Page 6 |
An hour’s association with one not good may leave in a soul a suggestion of evil which shall work the life’s utter ruin in the end. A happy home by its very happiness may become the enemy of the spiritual life, drawing thought, love, and devotion from God and from the higher things of God’s service to things lower and earthly. Business success may lead to moral failure; or, on the other hand, failure in business may dishearten and break the spirit. A time of sickness may breed discontent and fretfulness. Invalidism may make one selfish and exacting; or unbroken health may weaken the sense of dependence on God, or may rob the heart of patient sympathy, making one harsh and ungentle towards others in their infirmities. Too much companionship or too great absorption in work may interfere with the soul’s communion with God; or too much aloneness may make one’s life morbid, unwholesome, self absorbed, and out of sympathy with others.
These are suggestions of the possible evils that lurk in the common experience of even the most sheltered life. This is not an easy world to live in and in which to keep one’s self unspotted. It is not easy amid such antagonisms to grow into Christly beauty. One who has sincerely tried to keep himself pure, loving, gentle, unselfish, rich hearted in all sympathy and helpfulness, generous, patient, true, and sweet in all ways, even for one little day, knows that it is no easy task. But that is what Christ is able to do for us, – to guard that which we have committed to Him until the day of final revealing.
In another burst of confidence, just before his martyrdom, St. Paul used these remarkable words: “The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom.” He was in Nero’s hands, and soon would die; but his deposit was still safe, and would be guarded until it should be presented in glory.
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