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It Is Easy

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 7, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 39.

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It Is Easy.

It is easy to have faith when everything is clear to the eye; but then that isn’t faith; it is sight.
It is easy to be patient when everything is going just as we want it to; but then that isn’t patience.
It is easy to love those who are lovely; but then that isn’t any test of love; do you love the unlovely? That is the question.
It is easy to be interested in those who are interesting; but it isn’t much credit; we shall never get to Heaven on that; but to be interested in those who are not interesting, who are dull and repulsive, that counts.
It is easy to be brave when there is no danger; but that is not bravery.
It is easy to resist temptation, when the temptation is to something that we don’t care for; but this is not a temptation; and that is not resistance.
It is easy to sacrifice what we do not value; but that is not sacrifice.
It is easy to deny to other people what will give them pleasure; but that is not self-denial; it is the denial of other people’s selves.
It is easy to give away what we cannot keep any longer; but that is not generosity.
It is easy to be resigned to the losses of other people; but that is not resignation.
It is easy to go with the few—when the other side is still fewer.
It is easy to stand for the truth—when there are a few millions to stand with you.
It is easy to say to the man who is on the hot gridiron, “Do not groan so; you disturb me,” when you are sitting in an easy chair and are neither too hot nor too cold.
It is easy to say to a man or woman, “Now, you are just the person to do this laborious and expensive duty, to enlist in the war, to be a missionary, to forego pleasure, wealth, comfort, to bear cold and heat, poverty and danger; you are just the person to do it; you are so much engaged, so zealous, so devoted;” while you enjoy your luxurious home, and heap up riches.
It is easy to steal a railroad, or a city, or a State, and then give ten thousand dollars to a hospital.—National Baptist.