| Finding the Way |
Chapter 15 |
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It is the good of the person we are to think. Edifying means building up. This is always the motive of love. Envy seeks to harm another, to take away from his honour, to check him in his progress, to tear down what he has built up. But love thinks always of the good of the person, and of how his best interests may be advanced. We have an errand to every one whose life we touch. We are sent from God with a blessing to Him. We may not know what our mission is, what the good is that we are to do for Him, but love will find something to do for him which will make him a better and happier man. The true Christian way of relating ourselves to those about us is this – to be ready always to give any help that may be needed.
The idea of help does not have in mind merely material aid. Ofttimes the last thing we should do for one in need is to help him by relieving him of his load, by doing the hard task for him by giving him money. In the miracle at the Beautiful Gate the apostles had no money to give, but what they gave was better than money. We must not think that none need love’s ministries but those who are in some physical distress or in some great sorrow. Many who reveal no tokens of suffering are yet sufferers. Grief does not always wear weeds of mourning. There are hungry hearted ones who need love and sympathy. There are those who are misunderstood, to whom a word of confidence would impart strength. There are discouraged people to whom a glad, welcoming face is a heavenly benediction, full of inspiration for them.
We cannot estimate the value of our influence as helpers of those who need help. We must seek to please them in ways that will make them stronger, truer, better. There is a great deal of unfit comforting of others by those who think only of pleasing, not of helping. There is a kind of sympathy which only makes one weaker and less able to endure. The word comfort means to strengthen. We have comforted a sorrowing one only when we have made him stronger. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter. The name means one who stands by another. Standing by means comradeship. We may not give the person anything. We may not do anything at all which can be regarded as a favour, but the mere fact of our standing by him in strong friendship is of incalculable value to him. That was what Jesus hoped of His friends in Gethsemane. They could not help Him in any way – He must drink the cup Himself; but if they were near by Him in love and companionship, this alone would make Him stronger.
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