June 3, 1908

True Happiness in Service

EGW

The man whose experience is least to be envied is the one who shuts up his sympathies within his own heart. Those who get the most good out of life, who feel the truest satisfaction, are those who receive to give. Those who live for self are always in want; for they are never satisfied. There is no Christianity in shutting our sympathies up in our own selfish hearts. We are to bring brightness and blessing into the lives of others. The Lord has chosen us as His channels thru which to communicate His blessings.ST June 3, 1908, par. 1

The Lord has provided for every one pleasure that may be enjoyed by rich and poor alike,—the pleasure found in cultivating pureness of thought and unselfishness of action, the pleasure that comes from speaking sympathizing words and doing kindly deeds. From those who perform such service, the light of Christ shines forth to brighten lives darkened by shadows.ST June 3, 1908, par. 2

Christ bound men to His heart by the ties of love and devotion; and by the same ties He bound them to their fellow men. With Him love was life, and life was service. “Freely ye have received,” He said, “freely give.”ST June 3, 1908, par. 3

It was not on the cross only that Christ sacrificed Himself for humanity. As “He went about doing good,” every day's experience was an outpouring of His life. In one way only could such a life be sustained. Jesus lived in dependence upon God and communion with Him. To the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of the Almighty, men now and then repair; they abide for a season, and the result is manifest in noble deeds; then their life fails, the communion is interrupted, and the life-work marred. But the life of Jesus was a life of constant trust, sustained by continual communion; and His service for heaven and earth was without failure or faltering.ST June 3, 1908, par. 4

“God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world thru Him might be saved.” Looking upon men in their suffering and degradation, Christ perceived ground for hope where appeared only despair and ruin. Wherever there existed a sense of need, there He saw opportunity for uplifting. Souls tempted, defeated, feeling themselves lost, ready to perish, He met, not with denunciation, but with blessing.ST June 3, 1908, par. 5

The beatitudes were His greeting to the whole human family. Looking upon the vast throng gathered to listen to the Sermon on the Mount, He seemed to have forgotten for the moment that He was not in heaven, and He used the familiar salutation of the world of light. From His lips flowed blessings as the gushing forth of a long-sealed fountain.ST June 3, 1908, par. 6

Turning from the ambitious, self-satisfied favorites of this world, He declared that those were blessed who, however great their need, would receive His light and love. To the poor in spirit, the sorrowing, the persecuted, He stretched out His arms, saying, “Come unto me, ... and I will give you rest.”ST June 3, 1908, par. 7

In every human being He discerned infinite possibilities. He saw men as they might be, transfigured by His grace,—in “the beauty of the Lord our God.” Looking upon them with hope, He inspired hope. Meeting them with confidence, He inspired trust. Revealing in Himself man's true ideal, He awakened, for its attainment, both desire and faith. In His presence, souls despised and fallen realized that they still were men, and they longed to prove themselves worthy of His regard. In many a heart that seemed dead to all things holy were awakened new impulses. To many a despairing one there opened the possibility of a new life.ST June 3, 1908, par. 8

Every true, self-sacrificing worker is willing to spend and be spent for the sake of others. Christ says, “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor.” By earnest, thoughtful efforts to help where help is needed, the true Christian shows his love for God and for his fellow beings. He may lose his life in service; but when Christ gathers His jewels to Himself, he will find it again.ST June 3, 1908, par. 9

There are many souls in perplexity, weighed down by a load of guilt. They desire to be delivered from sin. They have wandered from the springs of true happiness, and have poisoned their lives by drinking of the murky waters of transgression. They need the help of a friendly, outstretched hand. Teach them how to reach upward, how to live so that they will gain the respect of their fellow men. Altho the will has been depraved and weakened, there is hope for them in Christ. He will waken in their hearts higher impulses and holier desires.ST June 3, 1908, par. 10

They need to hear words of encouragement, that they may lay hold of the hope set before them in the Gospel. The promises of God's word will be to them as the leaves of the tree of life. Patiently continue your efforts, until with grateful joy the trembling hand grasps the hope of redemption thru Christ.ST June 3, 1908, par. 11

It is the one who has been tempted and tried, and whose hope was well-nigh gone, but who was saved by hearing a message of love, who can best understand the message of soul-saving. He whose heart is filled with the love of Christ, because he has been sought for by the Saviour, and brought back to the fold, knows how to work for others. He can point sinners to the Lamb of God. He has given himself without reserve to God, and has been accepted in the Beloved. The hand that in his weakness he held out for help has been grasped. By the ministry of such ones many prodigals will be brought to the Father, to present themselves before Him in contrition and penitence.ST June 3, 1908, par. 12