| Things to Live For |
Chapter 21 |
Page 5 |
We ought to be willing to be trained for any service to which God would assign us, whatever the cost of the training may be. We are all eager for promotion in life. We are honored when our fellow men trust us with new and important responsibilities. Men are willing to spend years in hard study, and to endure severe discipline, that they may be able to take certain positions in life, and perform duties requiring delicacy and skill. When our great Master desires to prepare us for the highest of all arts, – that of being comforters of others in their trouble, – should we not feel ourselves honored in being called to perform such service for him?
It is a costly promotion, however; for we cannot be a blessing to those who need such ministry until we, too, have suffered, and learned the lesson of comfort for ourselves at God’s feet. Hence, if we would be truly and deeply helpful, we must be willing to pay the price of the costly tuition. We must learn deeply and long before we can teach well. We must listen intently before we are ready to speak to others. We must be willing to endure temptation, conflict, and struggle with sin, and to get the victory, before we can be succorers of those who are tempted. We must be content to suffer, and must learn to suffer patiently, before we can sing the songs of Christian joy and peace in the ears of the weary. Our own hearts must break to fit us for giving comfort, for only with heart’s blood can we heal hearts. God is ready always to anoint for the holy office of helping their fellow men those who can pay the price. One writes of the “making of men”–
“As the mighty poets take
Grief and pain to build their song;
Even so for every soul, Whatsoe’er its lot may be,–
Building, as the heavens roll,
Something large and strong and free,–
Things that hurt and things that mar
Shape the man for perfect praise;
Shock and strain and ruin are
Friendlier than the smiling days.
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