Appreciation by W. E. GERALD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 3, 1913

Appreciation

By W. E. GERALD

W. E. GERALD

A definition recently given of victory is “the ability to rejoice when your good is evil spoken of.” This touches a vital part in our Christian experience, and on this point the child of God may achieve some of his greatest victories. While it is true that deliberate indifference is a winged dart in the hands of Satan to pierce the unprotected heart, yet most of the difficulty in this direction is obviated by heeding the Saviour’s advice to seek not honor one of another, but seek the honor that comes from God. Once the wrong motive in the life is rooted out, the trouble vanishes.

The apostle Paul is an example of one who knew how to make the best of any situation. He exhorts ministers to commend themselves “by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known.”

The great and correct motive that should underlie our service is set forth in his epistle to the Ephesians, in which he gives this caution to servants: “Not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

With but slight variation he counsels the Colossian brethren: “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Having performed our service in this manner, we need not worry about the slights, mistaken or intended, of those from whom we have expected recognition, but can rejoice that one on high has measured perfectly, and recorded correctly on the pages of the heavenly ledger, the credit due us in every effort. When the hidden things are brought to light, we shall hear the “Well done.”

May God help us to learn this lesson so thoroughly that it will forever seal our lips against all reproach, complaint, and faultfinding.

South Lancaster, Mass.