p. 1 | PRACTICAL THOUGHTS by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 24, 1873

PRACTICAL THOUGHTS.

By D. T. Bourdeau

BABES IN CHRIST.

Those who have been in the truth for years are in danger of forgetting what they once were, and where the truth found them, and of not making that allowance for young believers that they should. On the other hand, young believers are in danger of looking for perfection in old believers, and of halting and stumbling at their faults, instead of looking to the only perfect pattern, Christ Jesus. We should bear in mind that Christians all have a common enemy to contend with, and sins to overcome, and that the work of overcoming is a progressive work. We should remember that the Bible speaks of “babes” in Christ, as well as of men and women of full stature. We do not expect as much of babes as we do of grown persons. Their strength is feeble, and they require light food and much care. And, thank God, their knowledge and responsibility are not beyond their capacity to perform. If they knew as much as grown persons, a sense of their weakness would make them unhappy, and they would not be contented with little things. Their feebleness and dependence draw out our sympathies and feelings of tenderness; and we excuse in them things which would be inexcusable in older persons. Such should be our feelings toward young believers. We should exercise toward them that patience, tender love, and forbearance, that kind parents do toward their children. We should love them as Christ has loved us, and not suffer their errors and childish ways to separate us from them in our feelings, or move us to hatred toward them. Christ loved us when we were sinners. It was our sins and miseries that led him to pity us and die for us. So the infirmities of young believers should lead us to be the more anxious to pity and help them, but fallen human nature revolts at such duties. We are too much inclined to merely love those who love us. Selfishness

is at the bottom of this. Christ did not wait till we were all right before dying for us.

But while there is a period of spiritual infancy to every Christian which calls for care and tenderness, and which is characterized with limited knowledge and comparative freedom from heavy responsibilities, it is the will of God that we should emerge out from the feebleness of infancy into the vigor of youth and into the experience and firmness of manhood, that we may not constantly demand the care of others, but be where we can help others, and be nursing fathers and mothers in Israel. These are greatly needed at the present time. The cause is suffering greatly for want of such. The trouble is that men and women do not exercise in laboring for others. They are shut up to themselves. They shun responsibilities. They are babes, needing the care and attention of others, while they should be strong in God and in the truth, imparting strength and knowledge to others, and blessing them with their rich experience. As they do not labor for others, in weariness and anxiety, they cannot know the value of the soul from experience, and are not prepared to help those who have taken a stand on the truth under the labor of others.

Many of us are dwarfed in spiritual strength and experience, and retain childish ways, from which we should have been weaned years ago. It is a shame constantly to require to be humored and petted; to be carried by others while we should bear our own weight. God wants us to lean upon him, and test the value of religion and the power of his free grace by our own personal effort. Unless we do this, our lives shall be worse than useless; we shall not bear fruit to the glory of God. Our example of weakness and inefficiency will tend to weaken others, instead of strengthening them. Instead of gathering with Christ, we shall scatter abroad; and how shall we meet the perils of the last days?

God delights to see us behave ourselves like weaned children, to see us help ourselves and learn to help others. But when he would wean us we are in danger of murmuring. But he knows what is for our best good. It is with us in religion as with one learning to swim. We must launch out and leave the shore. God pushes us out, that we may learn the lesson of self-reliance. His eye is upon us, and he will not suffer us to perish. Let us submit to him and honor him by doing valiantly in his cause.

LACK OF WISDOM.

It is no part of that wisdom which comes from above, and which is peaceable, to take sides with brethren and sisters under trials, who are in the wrong, thinking to help them in so doing. In pursuing this course, many have ruined those whom they hoped to help. The only way to help those who are in the wrong, is to impress their minds with the fact that they are not right. But all are not qualified to perform this delicate duty. It is those who are spiritual and do not move from impulse and selfish motives, upon whom the Scriptures roll the burden of restoring the erring. Gal. 6: 1. Such are generally backward in engaging in this most difficult work, because they understand its importance, and the difficulties which it presents; while those who are the least qualified for this work generally think themselves competent for the task. In cases of trials, such individuals are the first to suggest what should be done, and they are not wanting for words on occasions when it is wisdom to be slow to speak. When such hastily meddle with a trial, its difficulties are increased, and very often the work of correcting these overanxious and talkative ones becomes a more difficult task than to settle the original trial. When two parties get tried with each other, both are generally more or less in the wrong, and both parties should be made to see their wrong, and the virtues of those with whom they are in trial. This course makes for peace. But to be partial, and array before one party the faults of the other party in the worst of light, widens the breach between brethren, ruins souls, and is put down in the records of Heaven as one of the most criminal acts that mortals can perform.

THE RICH AND THE POOR, MASTERS AND SERVANTS.

While the Bible enjoins upon the wealthy to regard and favor the poor, in their deal with them, it also enjoins faithfulness on the poor, in laboring for the wealthy. It commands them to do what they do “with good will,” “as to the Lord, and not to men.” “Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers.” Eph. 6: 5–8. The apostle adds: “And ye, masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in Heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.” Verse 9. What a complete regulator are these words! Masters and servants would do well to reflect upon them. The servant who is unfaithful in his labor is as guilty of dishonesty as is the master who is close in his deal. Selfishness is the ruling sin of the age. Never were the wealthy more inclined to grind the face of the poor, and ne’er was it more difficult, on the other hand, to find faithful and reliable servants, who will interest themselves for their employers as they would for themselves. Faithful servants will seek to give their masters an equivalent in labor for the wages they receive, and to make the business in which they are engaged profitable to their masters, that they may be enabled to discharge their heavy responsibilities.

HOLD ON TO THE ERRING.

Although there is a point in laboring for the erring where exclusion must be resorted to for the good of the cause, yet it is safe to have it as a rule not to drop the erring too soon. When we think we have done all that we can to restore them, prayer and solemn reflection may bring to our mind some duty unperformed, some defects in our past labors, and some means whereby those in the wrong may be led to reform. Christ died for erring believers. He has presented the efficacy of his death to the Father, in their behalf. He has faithfully plead their cases before God. He has sent his Spirit and holy angels to convince them of sin and righteousness, and to lead them in the path of virtue. Much labor has been bestowed upon them by God’s children on earth. Angels rejoiced when they first repented and when their names were recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. Too much has been done for them for us easily to give them over as being past hope. Heaven would be clear of their blood if they were lost, but God would be more glorified in their restoration and salvation. May not their probation be lengthened in answer to our prayers and as the result of wisely directed effort? While we may be inclined to cut them down for not bearing fruit, and for cumbering the ground, it may be that the Lord says, “Let them alone this year also.” May we not, by manifesting love instead of hatred, patience and forbearance instead of impatience and rashness, meekness and a willingness to confess our sins instead of pride and stubbornness and a disposition to justify and build up self, lead them to repentance? How long the Lord has borne with us in our sins! We may have professed the truth much longer than they have, may have had greater light and more privileges than they have had, and yet may have often been indifferent and in a backslidden condition, and, notwithstanding all of this, we hope to be saved. Why not allow others the same privilege? With what measure we mete it shall be measured to us again. The merciful shall obtain mercy. But if we do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will God forgive us our trespasses. Says James to the last church, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5: 19, 20. What a strong inducement to wisely and patiently labor for the erring. Let us not drop them too soon.

D. T. BOURDEAU.