IN WHAT SHOULD WE GLORY?
By W. S. Sadler
W. S. SADLER.
(San Francisco, Cal.) “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” Jer. 9:23, 24. The prophet John, in giving a description of the dangers of the last Church on the earth, urged that their special peril would be that they would think they were rich and increased in goods, and had need of nothing, not knowing that they were poor, and wretched, and miserable, and blind. Almost one thousand years before He came in person, the Lord had spoken to Jeremiah, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom.” While this may refer to worldly professors, to great scientists, teachers, doctors, or other learned men, it especially refers to the man who thinks he is wise; because a man who is really and truly wise will have wisdom enough not to glory in the little he has. He will know that it comes from above, and was not born in him. “Neither let the mighty man glory in his might.” Some persons aspire to power in church circles, just as others do in social or political circles. And the same principle applies to wealthy persons. “Let not the rich man glory in his riches;” but if any glorying is done, “let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me.” That is the only thing worth congratulating yourself on. Many people know Him who do not understand Him. It is one thing to know God, and quite another thing to understand Him. To understand God is to recognize that He is the God who exercises loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness. To know God is life eternal. If any man wishes to glory, let him glory in the fact that day by day he is learning more about the character of God; that God exercises loving-kindness, etc., and that in the things that happen to-day he can see the loving-kindness of God. If we cannot see God’s loving-kindness in the things that happen to us in our daily lives, let us pray for eyesalve, that we may be able to see. The Lord is constantly letting us reap what we sow; and if in that which happens to us to-day we are unable to discern the harvest, or echo, of what we did yesterday, let us again ask the Lord for eyesalve with which to anoint our eyes that we may see. We are not to rejoice, or glory, in the fact that we are strong or rich or mighty or wise. Jesus said: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11. If we get our cup of joy full, it will run over, thus imparting joy to others. When you feel depressed, find some one to pray with, and your feelings of sadness or discouragement will vanish immediately. A man struggles and strives with the burden of sin till one day he looks to Jesus and763calls for help, and the burden leaves him. We should bear in mind that God is dealing kindly with us, and that He doeth all things well. No matter how dark the clouds overhead may become,—it makes no difference. It is the dark cloud, accompanied with thunder and lightning, which a few hours hence brings upon the earth the refreshing rain that causes everything to flourish and grow. The moral cloud that hangs over us to-day has in it showers of blessings for us if we will but see the hand of the Lord in it. He rides upon the clouds the same as He manifests himself in the sunshine. The same God who causes the sun to set at night will cause it to rise next morning. A little boy once asked his mother what made the sun go down. He was told it was the Lord. Then he said, “What an awful thing it would be if He should forget some morning to bring it up!” But He never forgets to do these things. His mercies are sure and new every morning. What we ought to glory in is not our goodness, but His goodness; not our faithfulness, but His. He is faithful that promised. Many souls have looked to Jesus, and have thought they got enough in that one look to save them. The look did save them then, but they must continue looking; their growth and progress depend upon the steadfastness with which they continue to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; and He can finish our faith only to the extent to which we keep looking to Him. We are just like reflectors: the reflector does not have any light in itself. We simply take that which Jesus shines upon us, and reflect it to others. Like the moon, which takes her light from the sun, the Church gets her light from the Sun of Righteousness. The Sun of Righteousness is to shine upon us, and we are then to reflect the light to the world about us. Everything the good Lord allows to happen to us, He always measures out. Sometimes the devil empties the measure, but he can empty out on us no more than the Lord has measured out for us. The Lord knows that we are but dust. He is able to succor us when we are tempted, and He knows all about our infirmities; so in arranging trials and character-developing discipline for us, the Lord does the best He can for us under the circumstances. Surely we ought to be satisfied, and to say with Paul, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Others ought to be able to see that we have been with Jesus and have learned of Him. The Bible tells us that it is the way of the transgressor that is hard; so whenever we have a hard time, either we have transgressed, or we really are having a good time, but the devil is persuading us that we are having a hard time. If Satan cannot get us to transgress, and so make a hard time for ourselves, he gets up an artificial hard time for us, and so tries his best to make us believe we are having a hard time even when we are abundantly blessed.