| Things to Live For |
Chapter 2 |
Page 6 |
The end of St. Paul’s lesson shows us a man, saved himself, so as through fire, while all his work is burned up. We think of one who has spent all his life in building a house, and gathering into it the things for which he has toiled. The house is burned, with all that is in it. The man himself escapes unhurt, but he carries nothing with him. So, says St. Paul, shall some men pass into heaven, barely saved, but losing all their work. They have lived uselessly. They have advanced Christ’s kingdom not at all. In all their life they have done nothing that will endure. The world would have been quite as well without them and their work. We need to remember that it is not enough to be busy, active, ever doing something; the work we do must be true work for God, such as will really bless the world.
There is something yet more serious in this lesson. One who builds only uselessly will be saved, though his work shall perish. But one who destroys God’s temple shall himself be destroyed. One may destroy the temple of God by teaching error which shall mislead souls, or by setting an example before others which shall influence them toward evil; or one may hurt other lives by selfishness or ungentleness. There are some Christians who seem never to have learned love’s secret of helpfulness. There is nothing that this sorrowing, sinning world needs more than gentleness, – gentleness like that of Him of whom it is written, that he would not break a bruised reed. We need to pray for the grace of gentleness, that we may walk softly among men, never hurting another life by harsh word or ungentle act.
It is sad enough to be a useless Christian, doing no good, building nothing that will last; but it is sadder far to live to tear down with unhallowed hand what others with love, prayer, and toil have built up; or by unloving and censorious words to discourage those who are sincerely trying to do God’s work, and to bless other lives. We all should pray to be saved from the doom of those who destroy the temple of God.
No one should be content to live either hurtfully or uselessly. While such mighty, immortal potencies are in all life, we should not be satisfied with anything less than the consecration of our every act and word and every shred of our influence to holiness and good.
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