Getting Along With
People
At every point as we go on into the thickening experiences of life--the
lesson of living with others meets us. It is not always easy to gracefully
accept these contacts with others, and to enter into kindly relations with
them.
There are some people who seem to be very good alone, while no one comes near them, while no other life touches theirs, when they have to think of no one but themselves--who make wretched business of living when they come into personal relations with others! Then they are selfish, tyrannical, despotic, willful, and exacting! They will not yield to any other one's desire or needs. They must have their own way; and they drive their life like a rough plow-share right through the comforts, the desires, the feelings, of others!
It seems almost a pity there could not be a few corners fenced off in this great world for such people as these, where they could live altogether alone, with no one ever to interfere with their rights or liberties, or to impinge upon their comfort in any way.
But this is not God's ordinance for human lives. We are to live together in families, in communities, in friendship's circle. Indeed, no worse fate could befall us, than to be doomed to live alone.
We might thus be absolved from the duties of love,
we could then have our own way,
we would not be required to think of anybody but ourselves,
and there would be no call for self-denial or sacrifice.
But meanwhile, we would be growing into monsters of selfishness!
We never can learn love's lessons, except in life's school, where the lessons are set for us in actual human relationships.
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."
There are some people who seem to be very good alone, while no one comes near them, while no other life touches theirs, when they have to think of no one but themselves--who make wretched business of living when they come into personal relations with others! Then they are selfish, tyrannical, despotic, willful, and exacting! They will not yield to any other one's desire or needs. They must have their own way; and they drive their life like a rough plow-share right through the comforts, the desires, the feelings, of others!
It seems almost a pity there could not be a few corners fenced off in this great world for such people as these, where they could live altogether alone, with no one ever to interfere with their rights or liberties, or to impinge upon their comfort in any way.
But this is not God's ordinance for human lives. We are to live together in families, in communities, in friendship's circle. Indeed, no worse fate could befall us, than to be doomed to live alone.
We might thus be absolved from the duties of love,
we could then have our own way,
we would not be required to think of anybody but ourselves,
and there would be no call for self-denial or sacrifice.
But meanwhile, we would be growing into monsters of selfishness!
We never can learn love's lessons, except in life's school, where the lessons are set for us in actual human relationships.
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."
1 Peter 3:8
-- J.R. Miller, 1898
Others
Lord, help me live
from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
Then even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for OTHERS.
Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true
And know that all I do for YOU
Must needs be done for OTHERS.
In such a self-forgetful way
Then even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for OTHERS.
Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true
And know that all I do for YOU
Must needs be done for OTHERS.
Others, Lord, yes,
others --
Let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee.--
Let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee.--
-- Consecrated Hymns, Geibel
& Lehman, 1902
In my world travels (eight round-the-world trips, passport
stamped in 157 countries), I enjoyed observing with my other senses-- since my sense of sight was gone-- the sounds and
actions of God's creatures, particularly in Africa.
Don't pay any attention to the evolutionists. They are just a bunch of foolish
people. In God's design of life, both floral and fauna, everything was put into
place to bring him pleasure. The lower animals are superior to man in many ways
(the eyes of the bird, the muscles of the cat, the sense of smell of the dog,
the digestive system of horses, mules, and cows). It is the nervous system of
man where God really excelled in his supreme ability to design-- man being able
to think, plan, and enjoy relationships. Certainly God intended for mankind to
get along, and yet, one of the first two children born into the world--
probably twins-- killed the other. One year, while in London, I attended a celebration of the
Salvation Army church. One Christmas, General William Booth (who founded the
Salvation Army), attempting to save money for the work of that great army-- sent
a telegram to the citadels of the world with just one word, "Others."
That said it all, whether to a family, a church, a nation, or a world.
With drones dropping bombs, armed insects, armed microbes, and
armed robots, men are using knowledge of Physics and Chemistry to mutilate and
kill one another. Warfare is as old as mankind. Think of the future King David,
16 years of age, running toward the giant, Goliath, while Israel was at war
with the Philistines, but also remember King David's son, Solomon--king at age
20-- asking God for wisdom. God made him the wisest man the world has ever
known. However, with all of man's wisdom, we have never learned to get along
with one another-- even our fellow citizens. Joseph Stalin trained in a
seminary, but is responsible for the death of approximately 100 million of his
fellow citizens. He said, "One death is a tragedy, 1000 deaths is a
statistic." The Christian church is often concerned about a single death
in the community, but shows little concern for the murder/death of 53 million
in the holocaust of abortion.
Almost as tragic are families who cannot get along. Men and
women who sat as children, with their feet beneath their parents' table, fight
over their parents' estate, till communication with each other ceases. The
smaller the estate, usually, the larger the anger.
God will showcase for eternity those who trusted in Him and
loved one another. Jesus said, "And
thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And
the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
There is none other commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:30-31
-- Dr. T.R. Morris
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