| Things to Live For |
Chapter 7 |
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A little child is said once to have closed her prayer on a winter evening in this way: “I saw a little girl on the street this afternoon; and she was cold and barefooted; but it isn’t any of our business, is it, God?” She was only more honest in her prayer than some older persons; for many people certainly act as if they regarded it as none of their business, when they see their fellow men suffering and in need. But the teaching of Christ shows that it is our business that we are under obligation to love and serve all men. We are debtor to every man; we may not owe him money, but we owe him love, and love means whatsoever help he needs, – bread for his hunger, or sympathy and cheer in his trial and struggle.
If we but look at people always in this way, we shall find ourselves asking concerning every one we meet: “How can I be a help to this person? What does God want me to do for him?” We certainly have some errand of love to every one who crosses our path. To busy men the interruptions of frequent callers are trying, especially when the callers have no particular errand. There is apt to be a strong temptation to treat the visitors impatiently, almost rudely. We are in the midst of important duties, and the time is all too brief I which to finish what we must do before nightfall. Certainly we have no right to waste our time with any such interrupters, devastators of time, as some one calls them.
Yet doubtless we have an errand to each and every caller. We owe him at least a kindly greeting, a pleasant word. To treat him rudely, and turn him away as if he were a dog, is to insult Christ himself. Perhaps we cannot do for him what he wants us to do, but we can at least treat him kindly. People with sad, discouraged hearts need love more than they need money. We do not read that Jesus ever gave money to any poor person whom he saw; but he did give to everyone one something far better than money. No one ever came to him with any real need and went away unblessed. We may always treat in the same way those who come to us. Without losing many seconds of time, we may send our visitor fro us with a lighter heart and with a little new hope in his breast to strengthen him for the struggle of his life that goes on forever.
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