USA > Colorado > San Juan County > Pioneering in the San Juan; personal reminiscences of work done in southwestern Colorado during the "great San Juan excitement," > Part 9
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By examining our text we see that "walking wisely toward them that are without" includes walk- ing wisely toward them that are within. For, if we walk unwisely toward them that are within, how, let me ask, are we to walk wisely toward them that are "without"? The root of wise action must be well watered by the graces that make our lives beautiful to them that are within ere the fruit of wise action will appear to them that are "without."
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Probably we would see more fruit for our labor should we bear in mind continually that our every act, whether it be wise or unwise, is noticed by our heavenly Father; and that most of our acts, wise or unwise, are noticed by our fellow men; for, as the apostle tells us, "we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men." This being true, should we not give heed to the words of our text? "The church of God is like a city of which all believers are the inhabitants, connected with each other by mutual relationship." Our walls are seen by the inhabitants of this world, and our confession causes us to be marked by them; we, by our pro- fession, claim to be "children of light." We who are within know this, and so do those who are "without" Should we be ashamed of this? Should we try to walk among God's people in such a way that those who are in the church of Christ cannot distinguish us from the worldling? In a word, shall we "let our light shine," or shall we "hide it under a bushel"? If we are letting our light shine we are acting wisely and justly toward them that are with- out; for they have great need of our assistance; they need to be made willing to be led, and then led in such a way as not to become disgusted with their leader. I know nothing that requires more
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wisdom than is needed in our walk toward those who make no profession of religion. If we fall in the presence of those who are Christ's, we wound them and cause their hearts to be grieved; but we are inside the city walls, where Christ reigns, and where charity and forbearance sit beside the judge; and where jurors are supposed, at least, to delight in mercy rather than sacrifice. But when we fall in the presence of those who make no profession of religion we not only grieve the hearts of God's chil- dren, but bring reproach upon the cause of Him we love. And while charity is often found where we least expect it, and least profession is made, yet the evil resulting from our fall may be such that a great many wise actions on the part of the prudent cannot rectify our mistake. I have often thought that the most severe test to which we are subjected in life's school of trial is that of "walking wisely toward them that are without." They try us in so many different ways and get the advantage of us so fre- quently, because every time we are provoked to do or say an unwise thing they have it. Those who are without judge of religion, not from the pro- fession we make, but from the life we lead; not from what they hear preached on the Sabbath day, or from the books we place in their hands; neither do
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they judge of religion from what they hear of its founders, but from what they see in our lives; they judge our religion by our daily walk and conversa- tion; they know whether or not a man's religion is swallowed up in his profession. The world's people draw the line of demarkation very plainly between what they call a wise or an unwise walk in a Chris- tian. It often happens that they are very exacting; having made no profession they claim great lati- tude-but expect the followers of Christ to be almost perfect. This, at times, is rather annoying, and we think unjust; yet we must admit that we, by our profession, have said to the world, We walk on a higher plane than you do, we have been "born again," "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Does not such a pro- fession call for a wise walk toward them that are without? Walking wisely is something that we owe to God, to the Church, the world, and to our own soul. By a careful study of God's word we will be convinced that great good will result to our own souls and to the souls of those with whom we come in contact by a cheerful and ready obedience to this command.
David, in his vow of godliness, said: "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way." David was
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determined to walk wisely in everything, at home and abroad. Have a good rule and walk by it. Remember that the steps of a good man are "ordered by the Lord." When David was a young man he behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. "Wherefore, when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him." "But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them."
It is not enough that we walk wisely one day, or six days in the week; but we must walk wisely every day. Neither will any excuse that we offer for an unwise walk be accepted by God. Our only way is to ask pardon for the past, if our walk has been an unwise one, and seek to walk in wisdom's ways in the future. If it is a fact, and not a mere profession, that the word of God is our rule, we will be ruled by it; and if God's glory be our aim in it all, we will find to our joy that that unseen hand is leading us day by day, and our lives will be "hid with Christ in God."
Walking wisely, like almost everything else, is made easier by practice. This truth we gather from the experience of God's children in all ages. At first, the old man within, and temptation with-
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out, caused them to take many unwise steps; but by a careful and prayerful study of God's word they saw where they failed. They saw that they had trusted to their own wisdom instead of trusting to the guidance of God's Holy Spirit; this discovery led them to seek Divine aid in their walk; and by the aid given they were enabled to walk wisely. Not only toward those who were within, but also toward those who were "without." I know that it is human to become tired of trying at times; we make good resolves, we think we are as careful as it is possible for a human being to be; we conclude that our walk is just about right, everything seems to be going straight, when all at once we make a false step. Oh! how our hearts fail us in such an hour, and how apt we are to drop our heads and take several unwise steps before we stop and raise our eyes heavenward and ask the assistance we so much need! This should not discourage, but cause us to see our continual need of Divine aid. We are in an enemy's country, and as long as life lasts we will be tried daily; our walk will be noticed and every misstep seen; and every step will influence those with whom we associate, either for good or evil. If we walk wisely "toward them that are without," we have good hope of winning them to
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Christ. Our every act will be a step on which they can rise heavenward. We may think that our influence is not felt in this world, but it is; we may not be conscious of it; we may not see any good resulting from our wise walk; it may be God's will to gather in the rich, ripe, golden sheaves without our knowledge. God may see that an immediate return of what we have hoped, and for which we have prayed, would only lead us to take an unwise step. Therefore, he hides, as it were, the golden sheaves that have ripened under the good influence of our wise walk. We think at times if we could only see just what effect our walk was having upon those around us that it would be of great assistance to us. Let us stop and reverse this for one moment by asking ourselves, what effect does the walk of others have on us? What will apply to ourselves will apply to others; the same rule works both ways. If the wise walk of a neighbor or a friend is a benefit to us, let us bear in mind that a wise walk on our part will be of equal benefit to them.
We find every word in the Book of Life of great benefit 'in the battle of life; nothing has been placed there in vain. True, there are some pass- ages of Scripture like great lighthouses on the shores of time, warning men, throwing light before
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them, and showing to the world the channel through which we must sail if we would reach that safe and quiet haven of eternal rest ; but lesser lights are needed and are of greater importance than we are aware; for while they do not give as much light as some others, they guide man with equal sureness through the darkness that is around lesser temptations.
We may consider that the words of our text are like a very small light, not of much use to guide man to glory and to God; I admit that it is not as great as some others, yet if we walk in the light which a careful study of our text will give, we will find that its apparent dimness is caused by lack of appreciation on our part; the light is there, the truth is there, words of wisdom compose it. God inspired the true and faithful apostle to the Gentiles to write it, and instruction such as is needed can be found therein if we search for it. Then why not treasure it up in good and honest hearts, seeking God's help that we may obey the command given? "Walking in wisdom toward them that are with- out." Life, you know, is made up of seconds, min- utes, hours and days, as well as years; so our walk is made up of steps, or actions; some taken hastily, some after due consideration, yet all go toward making up our walk. This being true, how careful
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should we be that we are making a right use of every minute and taking a right step every time!
In conclusion, I desire to say: I hope that what has been said on the subject of walking wisely will be remembered by all who read this sermon. Every professing Christian should walk wisely, circum- spectly and carefully "toward them that are with- out," and cordially, hospitably and peaceably toward them that are within; that we may walk with Christ while on earth, and after death dwell with him on high.
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CHAPTER XL
NO WASTE IN THE MINISTRY OF LOVE
"If I can by a lucky chance, in these days of evil, rub out one wrinkle from the brow of care, or beguile the heavy heart of one moment of sadness; if I can, now and then, penetrate the gathering film of misanthropy, prompt a benevolent view of human nature, and make my reader more in a good humor with his fellow beings and himself, surely, surely, I shall not then have written entirely in vain." -Washington Irving.
The following sermon was preached by the Author in the First Presbyterian Church of Colo- rado Springs, October 18, 1898, as retiring Moder- ator of the Synod of Colorado:
Subject-"No Waste in the Ministry of Love." TEXT (ST. JOHN 12: 7.):
"Then said Jesus, Let her alone; against the day of my burying hath she done this."
It must have touched the heart of the Lord Jesus when Mary anointed his feet, and then wiped them with her hair. And while Judas tried to make out that there had been a waste, Jesus let his disciples know that "against the day of his burying she kept this," and has taught his followers that there is no waste in the ministry of love. I believe there may be mistakes, yet in this blessed ministry there can
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be no waste; and undoubtedly there are fewer mis- takes in love's ministry than in any other. I do not believe that "love is blind," although many things are credited to love that are devoid of soundness, but when traced to the proper source prove to be the acts of an almost insane jealousy. Ignorance often ignores the ministry of love and claims that some of the noblest sacrifices made by men and women are a waste of time, talents and means; but the fault lies with those who make the criticism, and not with those who do the work, make the sacrifices, and love the Master.
Among all the kindnesses shown our Lord by those who dwelt in that hospitable home in Bethany, by Martha, Mary and Lazarus, I believe that this kindness done by Mary was the greatest and appre- ciated the most by him. The preciousness of the ointment surely had its value in the eyes of our Savior, yet the love that crowned the gift was valued a thousand-fold more. Water and a coarse towel would have answered the purpose for bathing and wiping the feet of Jesus on ordinary occasions; but now that the time was approaching when the feet of our Lord would be nailed to the cross, there was nothing too precious with which to bathe them, and a woman's hair, which is her glory, was not too
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sacred to be used in the place of a towel. There are times when there should be an outlay of that which is precious, yea, times when we should show our love for the Savior by giving to him that which is of the greatest value; even life, if that becomes necessary. There are times when we should give that which is precious to those on earth.
We are not told how wide was the circle of Mary's acquaintances, nor how influential she was in society. But we are told how she loved Jesus, and so long as the world stands, her great act of love will remain as evidence that there is no waste in the ministry of love. Had Mary been the wife or the daughter of an earthly king, her influence in her day might have been far wider for good or evil; but how soon would she have been forgotten! and now instead of her name being mentioned in loving remembrance wherever the Gospel of Christ is preached, it would have been locked fast in the past. A narrow wall, so far as earthly fame in Palestine went, had been built around Mary. Yet by the ministry of love that wall has been extended, until to-day it encircles the world. Love built that wall, and the strength of Jehovah defends it; therefore the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. "Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in
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the whole world, there shall this also, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her."
Evidently the ointment Mary used on this occa- sion was rare and difficult to obtain, "of great value"; but in her eyes nothing was too valuable to be used for the comfort, or the glory of her Lord.
Since the day that the words of the text were spoken, great changes have come over the face of the earth; barren wastes have been made to blos- som like the rose; while part of the earth that was highly cultivated then is almost a desert now. The channels of rivers have changed. Nations that were not in existence then have become the leading nations of the world. Change is written every- where. Yet with all the changes written across earth's face, no change has come to the hearts of men; they are still deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; with here and there an oasis of love for some human being, if not for God, in every heart; with some here and others in different places who do have a high appreciation of all that is true, pure and soul-ennobling, firmly believing and acting on their belief in the blessed truth that there is no waste in the ministry of love.
How often do we hear men, to whom we had given credit of knowing better, speak of the waste
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there is both in money and men in the great work of foreign missions, and in the equally great work of home missions! Those of intelligence speak of the waste of life and property that has been cheer- fully laid upon our country's altar. But believe it, no matter how much of that which is dear to the hearts of true men and women may be laid upon God's altar, or our country's altar, there is no waste when it helps to fill out the ministry of love.
Speaking of the "alabaster box of very precious ointment" which Mary broke, and of her knowledge of that "decease" of which Christ spoke so fre- quently, as well as her love for Jesus, one has said : "It is not unreasonable to suppose, remembering the fondness of Jewish women for such perfumes, that Mary may have had that alabaster box of very costly ointment from olden days, before she had learned to serve Christ; then, when she came to know him, and must have learned how constantly that decease, of which he ever spoke, was before his mind, she may have put it aside, 'kept it against the day of his burying.'" To me this would be just like a woman; to keep a thing until love suggested it was time to use it. How often our mothers did that! How often do those who are dearer than life to our hearts do the same thing now-keep something
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for us, precious because it has been kept till the right time, as well as precious in itself, and then lovingly bestow it upon us!
Probably Mary knew better than any other fol- lower of Jesus that his earthly ministry would soon cease. She may have been aware that this anoint- ing was "against the day of his burying," before Jesus told his disciples in her presence that it was. If so, then beyond doubt her faith made it a twofold anointing-that of the best guest of the feast and that of preparation for that burial which of all others she apprehended was so terribly near. And deep humility now offered what earnest love had provided, and intense faith, in view of what was coming, applied. And so she poured ointment over his head, over his feet; then, stooping down, wiped them with her hair, as if not only in evidence of service and love, but in fellowship of his death. "And the house was filled"-and to all time his house, the church, is filled "with the odor of the ointment."
Waste this was in the eyes of the disciples, but not waste in the eyes of Mary's Lord, and of our Lord, because it was a service of love, and great was Mary's reward. And believe it, dear hearers, great will be our reward. if we render unto Jesus the
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service of love. For the harder we work in the Master's vineyard now, the sweeter will be the rest in the house of the Master by and by, when earthly labors cease and heavenly joys begin.
Jesus said: "Let her alone," and to-day he says to every opposer of his cause, and to every one in his church who is disposed to criticise acts of love for the Master, just because they do not coincide with their view: "Let my workers alone." "Hin- der me not," said the faithful servant when he had been convinced that Rebekah was the proper person to become his master's wife, and "Hinder me not," has been the cry of many a faithful servant of the great Master, in all ages; while those who have no particular interest in the upbuilding of his kingdom hinder them in their work in so many ways. One way is by constantly crying: "To what purpose is this waste?" Oh, why do you do as you do? Why don't you do as we wish you to do? Yes, regarding all who are breaking their precious box of ointment at the Master's feet, Jesus says to every fault-finder: "Let them alone-they have a good pur- pose in doing as they do, and the smell of the oint- ment is very sweet to me. You may not appreciate the efforts they are making to honor me, but I do. Let them alone; for against the day of my coming
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again, when 'all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,' they are doing this."
Love's ministry was appreciated by our Savior before his crucifixion and burial, and it was appre- ciated by him after his resurrection, when those faithful women went early unto the tomb where their Lord had been laid. When he comes again he will abundantly reward every one who has shown love for him in any way.
When we first read of Christ's approval of Mary's loving act, we are liable to think that the Savior approves of outward display when his children seek to honor him; but, when we consider the matter carefully, we are convinced that this was no ordinary occasion; no ordinary service; one which ought to be commonly used in the church. This act of Mary, we are plainly told, was in connection with his burial.
The Savior frequently enjoins us to be sober and moderate in the use of everything that leads toward that which is carnal, or only an outward observance of the worship of God. "God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." I am aware of the fact that many would
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have us believe that in the breaking of the alabaster box and in the anointing of Jesus with the precious ointment it contained, we find a lesson taught; that costly and magnificent worship is pleasing to God. But men everywhere are ready to grasp and hold that which pleases the senses rather than that which is spiritual and benefits the soul. This accounts in part for the crowds that gather (upon the Lord's day) in places of amusement, or in places where their tastes are pleased, and for the few (comparatively speaking) who prefer going where they will hear the plain, unvarnished Gospel preached. "Wasting your time!" is their cry, when told we prefer the simple Gospel truths before that which suits the fancy and pleases the senses, but starves the soul. No one who loves the Lord Jesus, and desires to take part in the ministry of love, will say that the anointing of Jesus by Mary, and the wiping of his feet with her hair, were superfluous; for he was soon to be buried; and this, I believe, was done under the direction of God's Spirit, for He has influenced His children in many ways and on many occasions ever since the begin- ning of time, and will continue to do so until time shall end.
What was proper for Mary to do to her Lord,
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"against the day of his burying," would not be the proper thing for his followers to do now to one another; and while all tenderness and love should be shown toward the living and the dead, let us keep in mind, as we think of all that Jesus accom- plished by his death, resurrection and ascension, the great blessing brought to our souls by be- lieving in Him; that "the odors of his resurrection have now sufficient efficacy, without spikenard and costly ointment, to quicken the whole world." Also keep in mind that everything that we have belongs to the One who died for our sins and rose for our justification, and who now maketh intercession for us before His Father and our Father in heaven.
Let us emphasize what I have already said: There may be mistakes in the ministry of love, yet no waste, that our charity may become very broad toward all who desire to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not all constituted alike, nor have all been educated in just the same way; conse- quently, what one may consider the best thing to do that Christ's name may be honored, others equally sincere and equally anxious to honor the Savior may not think best. Therefore, let us be careful lest we fall into error in our judgment regarding one another. We are not expected to give up our Chris-
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tian liberty, nor should we ask that others give up theirs; and while retaining our own and permit- ting others to keep theirs, let us not be saying we are right and careful not to waste what belongs to our Lord, implying that those who differ from us are wasting that which should be used for the honor of God's name and the upbuilding of his kingdom. If any one, while trying to serve God honestly, makes mistakes (and who does not make mistakes?), let us not censure nor discourage him; but the rather help him-or at least let him alone.
The disciples put an unfavorable construction upon Mary's act, that was so filled with love, while Jesus approved it. And I believe that at the pres- ent day many acts of love, approved by the Savior, are disapproved by men who, like His disciples of old, really love Him. We pride ourselves on being good judges of human nature, yet we know that we cannot read what is in a man's heart (God alone can do that); and while we may read faces, we cannot interpret acts of love as they should be interpreted. Therefore, men will continue to misunderstand one another and misjudge one another and consider very much wasted what in reality is a sweet-smelling savor to God, and will, in that last great day, stand forth as something none will then be ashamed to
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acknowledge as a part of the good work of the true ministry of love.
In the battle of life we find very much to try our faith, our patience and our love; and some of us may have natures that are hard to control. We find that the old man will persist in asserting himself, even while we are engaged in the Master's service, trying to honor Him. Many have been wounded in days that have long since passed away, and those wounds, while healed, have left deep scars. There- fore, as we journey heavenward, let us be kindly and affectionate toward one another, remembering that, "when a scar cannot be taken away, the next kind office is to hide it." "Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this." She meant well; and in Christ's sight, and in reality, there was no waste, because in the ministry of love there can be none.
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