| The Glory of the Common Life |
Chapter 15 |
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A man who is seeking to enlarge his life may continue poor all his years, in an earthly sense, but he receives into his life qualities of character which make him a better and greater and richer man. St. Paul lost all his money, all his earthly inheritance, in following Christ. But think what a glorious Christian manhood he built up meanwhile for himself! Think of the way he blessed the world by his life, by his teaching, by his splendid self sacrifice, by his influence! Think of all he gave to the world in his words! He scattered seeds of truth, plants of beauty everywhere. Think how the world has been blessed and enriched by what he said and did. His heart was enriched and his life grew into marvelous ardour and influence. Jesus said, “No man hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel’s sake, but he shall receive now in this time, houses, and brethren… and lands.” Whatever we part with in following Christ we shall get back again, in our own lives, in real possession, in rich blessing.
When we speak of the true enlarging of the life, we must think of such enlarging as this – not of a man’s property, but of himself. You have grown richer, perhaps, these years; you have a great bank account, a bigger and finer house, more property, are more widely known among your fellows, occupy a more conspicuous place; but are you a larger man? Are you truer? Have you more peace in your breast? Is your heart warmer? Do you love your fellow men any more? Are you giving out your life more unselfishly to make others better? Are you making yourself more continually a bridge that others may cross over life’s chasm; a stairway on which the weak, the weary, the struggling, the lowly, may climb up to better things? The enlarging life is one that is growing more Christ like every day, that has more of the fruits of the Spirit in it – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, and self control.
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