Love of the World
575
from the world, and do no good to our fellow beings, thinking this is
[627]
the cross of Christ; neither are we required to expose health and life
unnecessarily, nor to go mourning up the hill of Christian life, feeling
it a sin to be cheerful, contented, happy, and joyful. These are all
self-made crosses, but not the cross of Christ.
To bear the cross of Christ is to control our sinful passions, to
practice Christian courtesy even when it is inconvenient to do so, to
see the wants of the needy and distressed and deny ourselves in order
to relieve them, and to open our hearts and our doors to the homeless
orphan, although to do this may tax our means and our patience. Such
children are younger members of God’s family and are to receive love
and care, and to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord. This is a cross which, if lifted and cheerfully borne for Christ,
will prove a diadem of glory in the kingdom of God.
Brethren, for Christ’s sake fill up your lives with good works, even
though the world does not appreciate your efforts and gives you no
credit. This is self-denial. Selfishness is the most galling yoke the
members of the church ever placed upon their necks, but there is much
of it cherished by those who profess to be Christ’s followers. All you
have belongs to God. Be guarded, lest you selfishly hoard the bounties
He has given you for the widow and the fatherless. Christ left His
glory, His honor, His high command, and for our sakes became poor,
that we through His poverty might be made rich. Now the question
comes home: What will we individually do for Jesus, who gave His
life for a ruined world?
[628]