By J.R. Miller
Every truly consecrated life, with all its faculties, has been given over to Christ. Faith implies full surrender, "You are not your own." "You are Christ's." Christ owns us first by right of creation, then by right of purchase; and we acknowledge his ownership and all that it includes, when we receive him as our Savior and Lord. The first question, therefore, of the new believing heart is, "What will you have me to do, Lord?" We want to begin to work for our new Master.
We belong to Christ; we are his slaves--that is the word Paul used so much, and with such a thrill of joy, as the thought of the honor it denoted. He was Christ's slave. "Whose I am, and whom I serve," was his working creed. "Your will--not mine," is henceforth the only true law of life for us. We are to wait at each step for Christ's bidding. Our very thoughts must be brought into captivity to him.
This ownership covers and embraces all of life. A heart of love for Christ makes the sweeping of a room, the ploughing of a field, the sawing of a board, the making of a garment, the selling of a piece of goods, the minding of a baby--all actions, as fine as the ministry of angels.
One way of working for Christ, therefore, is to be diligent in the doing of life's common daily tasks. The true giving of ourselves to God exalts all of life into divine honor and sacredness. Nothing is trivial or indifferent, which it is our duty to do. We are never to neglect any work, however secular it may seem--in order to do something else which appears to be more religious. There are some people who would be better Christians if they paid more heed to their own daily business, attended fewer church meetings and did less religious gossiping. Ruskin says, "The best prayer at the beginning of a day is that we may not lose its moments; and the best grace before eating, is the consciousness that we have justly earned our dinner."
We need a religion which puts itself into everything we do. The old shoemaker was right when he said that when he stands before the great white throne God will ask, "What kind of shoes did you make down on the earth?" We must do all our work for the judgment day, our common everyday tasks--as well as our religious duties. The carpenter must get his religion into the houses he builds, the plumber into his plumbing, the tailor into his seams, the merchant into his sales. All our work--we must do for God's eye!
But, besides this living of the whole life for Christ, there is a specific work for him in which every Christian has a part to perform. Everyone who is saved, should do something toward saving others. The first thought of a truly saved person is of some friend or friends who are still in peril; and the first impulse of renewed heart is to try to bring these lost ones to the Savior. The cause of Christ in this world needs assistance in many ways, and it is the will of the Master that this cause should be advanced, not by the ministry of angels, not by Christ himself immediately and directly--but by his people--those whom he has redeemed and saved. The story of salvation must be told by lips that have first uttered the cry for mercy. The lost must be won by the love of hearts that have first been broken in penitence. The divine blessing of salvation must be carried in earthen vessels to the perishing.
Every Christian has something to do for Christ in this world. The fullest hands must make room for some little part of the Master's work. Even the child that loves Christ may at least carry a cup of the water of life to some thirsty soul.
Every Christian should be deeply imbued with the missionary spirit. A portion of the responsibility for carrying the news of salvation to every creature rests on each follower of Christ. In these days of missionary activity there is no one who cannot do something to help send the gospel to heathen lands. Every young Christian should consider himself, from the moment of his consecration to Christ, a debtor to all men, near and far, who are not yet saved--and in prayer and work and gift he should seek to pay that debt to the last atom of his ability.
In nearly every church there are missionary organizations for the cultivation of the missionary spirit, the diffusing of information and the gathering of money for the work of missions. Every young Christian should be identified with one of these organizations, thus imbibing the missionary spirit and preparing for active interest and service in the cause.
There is also very much sorrow and suffering in this world, and every Christian should do all in his power to comfort the sorrow and alleviate the suffering. Here, as in all things, Jesus himself is our example and his life is our pattern. We represent him in this world! He has gone away to heaven--but he has left his people here to carry on his work.
Here is a wide field for Christlike and most helpful ministry. What we need for it, is a spirit of sympathy and kindness that shall never fail. We may not be able to do much to relieve those who are troubled--we certainly cannot work miracles as Christ did; but we may have a heart of love which shall manifest itself toward everyone in a spirit of patient gentleness and kindly thoughtfulness.
Sincere sympathy is oftentimes better than money. People in distress generally need a friend more than they need gift or miracle. God sends to earth no angels whose ministry leaves more benedictions of joy, of help, of inspiration, of uplifting, of restoring--than are left by the ministry of the angel of true human sympathy.
For this service we need only to have in us the true spirit of Christ, a spirit of unselfish love--and then blessing will flow from our life even without effort or purpose; unconsciously, as fragrance pours from a flower, as light streams from the sun.
Christ did other kinds of work--but it was the same spirit which wrought in all his ministry. He taught the people; he scattered the words of truth; he lifted up his voice against wrong and sin; he sought the lost and led them back to the Father; he went to the cross in the place of sinners. In all forms of personal ministry we are to strive to follow in his steps. The golden seeds of heavenly truth which his lips dropped, we are to seek to scatter everywhere in life's desert fields.
The very best thing we can do for people, in this world of sin and sorrow--is to get the words of Christ into their hearts. It is like scattering flower seeds on the black lava beds about the fiery mountain's base--in the crevices the seeds will root and grow, and sweet flowers will bloom by and by. Christ's words are living seeds from which spring up heavenly plants to beautify and bless bleak and dreary lives, over which sin's fires have rolled. The tiniest hand and the weakest Christian can scatter these good seeds in some bare spot, where they will grow.
It is the little things that all of us can do in Christ's name, which in the end leave the largest aggregate of blessing in the world. We need not wait to do great and conspicuous things. One Amazon River is enough for a continent--but there is a place for a million little rivulets and purling brooks. A life that every day gives its blessing to another, and adds to the happiness of some fellow being, by only a word of kindness, a thoughtful act, a cheering look, or a hearty hand grasp--does more for the world than he who but once in a lifetime does some great thing which fills a land with his praise. Nothing that is done for Christ is lost! The smallest acts, the quietest words, the gentlest inspirations which touch human souls, leave their impress for eternity!
Then while we are giving out blessing to help and to enrich other lives--we are receiving also into our own heart. The words of the Master are literally true--"It is more blessed to give than to receive." He did not say it is more pleasant, more agreeable--but more blessed. The song we sing to cheer a weary spirit--echoes back new cheer into our own soul. The sacrifice we make to help one in distress--leaves us not poorer--but richer. Love's stores are not wasted by giving--the more we give--the more we have. The way to grow rich in the treasures of kindness and affection--is to show kindness and affection to all who need. If we find our spiritual life languishing, its resources growing less, the true way to refresh it is not by closer economy in giving to others--but by greater generosity.
In every living church, there are various organized forms of Christian activity; in some one or more of these, every member should be engaged. Let the young Christian at once choose the particular class of work in which he decides that it is best for him to engage, and promptly identify himself with the organization, society or group which has in view the special work he has selected. There should not be one idle Christian in any church! One of the most withering curses uttered in the Scriptures, is against uselessness--against those who do not come up to help against the enemy.
Thus Christian work is not only a duty--but a means of grace. It is not the rest of inaction to which Christ calls us--but the rest of loving service. Every power of our being, we should give to him to be used. Every gift we possess should be employed in doing good. That day is a lost day--in which we do nothing to bless some other life in the name of Christ.
