| Finding the Way |
Chapter 15 |
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Saint Paul says, “Let each one of us please his neighbour for that which is good, unto edifying.” We are to please our neighbour for his good. We must not think of gratifying his whims, of feeding his vanity, or of nourishing his self conceit. This would not be to “please Him for that which is good.” A great many people are hurt irreparably by insincere flattery. They may be pleased in a sense, but it is not for their good. They are puffed up by it, encouraged to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think. We can do no greater unkindness to another than to stimulate his self conceit. Yet one of the temptations of good nature is to be insincere and even untruthful in commending others.
But it is not this kind of pleasing that Saint Paul had in mind. It must be for the person’s good, his growth in character, and then it must be genuine and altogether true. The duty of pleasing others is part of the great lesson of love. If we love our neighbour we will desire to give him pleasure, to make him happy. We get the lesson from our Master, and in His life love blossomed out in all its perfection. Christ never sacrificed truth, was never insincere, and yet His speaking to men was always marked by kindliness. He was never brusque in His speech. He never lost His temper nor spoke in anger. He reproved men’s sins and faults, but when He did this His tones were quiet and His voice was full of love.
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