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Small Things

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 1, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 45, No. 1.

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Small Things.

By L. A. Cartwright

EVERY-DAY occurrences show the need of more care in small things. We do not fall into sin as Satan “like lightning from Heaven,” but first yield to some small temptation, thinking it will do no harm, it is such a little thing. But it will not stop there, for it is on the wrong road, and unless the course is reversed destruction is sure. So, too, there is immense power for good, or evil in the “small sweet courtesies of life.” For they are the avenues to the affections; a fact well understood by worldly wisdom. The crafty seeker for gain, with his cunning palaver and artful blandishments, wheedles the money from its pleased possessor. And the wily politician smiles and bows to every one with “hail fellow well met” to secure an election. “Playing the agreeable” is their “winning card” that gains patronage and insures success.
We should not be deceitful, but we should cultivate genuine kindness, and that real love that is so full of all pure intuitions that shall leave no room for sin. Then the “little words of kindness and little deeds of love” will save many from the downward path and win souls to Christ.
Sneers have no place in Heaven, and are not needed on earth. Let them go where they belong. A word of encouragement or look of sympathy cheers the heart in trouble. But a bitter word or scornful look sinks like a barbed arrow into the quivering spirit, and often discourages and destroys a soul. These little items make up human character, and through grace fit us for the better land, or, under the control of Satan, lead to the abyss of woe. It is a fearful thought, that we may, by a haughty look, a hasty word, or careless deed, prejudice and repel, we know not how many, from the truth. And they will be remembered when “every one shall give an account of himself to God.” Let us not “despise the day of small things,” nor sit in the seat of the scornful, nor stand in the way of sinners.”
L. A. CARTWRIGHT.