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Not a Favored Few, But Many Friends, June 8
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17
.
Sympathy is good, wisely given, but it must be judiciously imparted,
with a knowledge that the subject is deserving sympathy. What shall be
said of receiving advice and counsel?
Proverbs 25:9-12
. “Debate thy cause
with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: lest he
that heareth it put thee to shame.... A word fitly spoken is like apples of
gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine
gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.” When we can associate
together to help one another heavenward, when the conversation is upon
divine and heavenly things, then it amounts to something to talk; but
when the conversation centers upon self and upon earthly and unimportant
matters, silence is golden. The obedient ear will receive reproof with
humility, patience, and teachableness. Then only do our communications
with each other prove beneficial, and fulfil all that God would have them.
When both sides of the divine instruction are fulfilled, the wise reprover
does his duty, and the obedient ear hears to a purpose and is benefited
Every association we form, however limited, exerts some influence
upon us. The extent to which we yield to that influence will be determined
by the degree of intimacy, the constancy of the intercourse, and our love
and veneration for the one with whom we associate
Your good will, your unselfish acts, will not be to a favored few,
but to all with whom you associate. Thus you will form friends and
attachments that are dear and lasting; your own deeds will be reflected
back on yourself
Through the social relations, Christianity comes in contact with the
world. Every one who has received the divine illumination is to brighten
the pathway of those who know not the Light of Life
[167]
17
Letter 52, 1893
.
18
The Signs of the Times , December 7, 1882
.
19
The Youth’s Instructor, November 10, 1886
.
20
The Desire of Ages, 152
.
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