| Things to Live For |
Chapter 2 |
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It is true especially in spiritual work. The gospel had been preached in Corinth by St. Paul; and as one might throw a handful of spices into a bitter fountain and sweeten the waters, so the words of the gospel dropped into the foul life of the heathen city were sweetening it. Now, there was a large body of faithful Christians in that city. They had been brought to Christ, and were his disciples. This was Paul’s work. Yes; Paul’s and God’s. Paul was a great preacher, but it was by the power of God that the mysterious change had been wrought. So it is in all Christian work. We soon learn that we can do nothing without God.
Yet our part is important, and we must do it well and faithfully. Carelessness or neglect may lead to the marring of a life or the loss of a soul, and blame will be ours. A young mother wrote in a letter, “When I took my little boy in my arms the first time, and his little hand closed tightly round my finger, I realized what a good woman I must be in order to help him to be a good man.” God needs our faithfulness in doing his work on human lives. That is, he has ordained to use us, and we are held responsible for doing well our part. Our unfaithfulness may mar the work of God.
St. Paul had something serious to say also about the responsibility of those who work upon the walls of God’s temple. They may build gold, silver, and costly stones, or wood, hay, and stubble. There is only one foundation, – Christ. God, silver, and costly stones represent the beautiful things we should build into our life, or into the lives of others.
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