HE ADDETH NO SORROW by M. E. Steward

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 19, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 32.

HE ADDETH NO SORROW.

By M. E. Steward

BY M. E. STEWARD.

THERE are Christians who lose much of the sweetness of their blessings in the fear of some trial they believe is sure to come because of the blessing. This was the experience of a sister for many years. She remarked to an aged Christian that she expected some great trial because she had received such a blessing. "Not necessarily so," replied her friend. This opened the eyes of the sister, and ever after she enjoyed her blessings without the fear of coming evil.

"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." Are we then to conclude that the Lord has nothing to do with the troubles which sometimes follow blessings? Blessings are often given to strengthen the soul to endure trials. Jesus himself received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of his Sonship, and his Father's approval, immediately preceding his temptation in the wilderness. Just before he suffered, he was greatly blessed in communion with his disciples, whom he loved so dearly. Said he, "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer."

The last prayer of our Lord (John 17) revealed holy satisfaction in the view of the absolute oneness of believers with himself and his Father. This prospect of the result of his sufferings must have nerved our blessed Redeemer to enter upon his last most terrible trial.

"They sang a hymn and went out." "Jesus," as our lamented Brother J. N. Andrews used to say, "went to suffer and be crucified; we go to our pleasant homes." He went to carry out the whole will of his Father through bitterest agony. We too often go from the place where we have had sweet communion with our God, and grow careless, forget to watch and pray without ceasing, are more or less unmindful of the will of God, and discouragement comes upon us. How different it might have been! Blessings never come to prepare us to be discouraged. That must be a wrong use of a blessing which turns it into such a trial.

All our blessings, and trials as well, which are of the Lord's appointment, work for our good, and lift us, if we use them properly, nearer the throne of God, even as our Saviour

after he had suffered the will of his Father was "caught up to God and to his throne." Every blessing should be the stepping-stone to a higher plane of life, and this plane gained, the eye should be steadily fixed on Jesus, in humble gratitude and faith, and the hand should still reach earnestly toward heaven for help to climb up another step. We are told that the reason we have no greater blessings is because we would not use them aright.

After receiving God's blessing we should be most careful to keep nearer him than before. We should watch against any feeling of self-gratulation that we are noticed of heaven, or we will soon begin to think there is some good in us; then we lose our blessing and fall, and then we think that's just what I expected; its because I received such a blessing. "He addeth no sorrow;" it is all our own fault, even if Satan comes in with powerful temptations and overcomes us. All this would never be did we keep consecrated to God, trusting him and watching against the first approach of evil.

Many fail because they are satisfied with the blessings they receive instead of continually reaching for more. God begins to pour out his Spirit, designing to give much more; but they feel they have "already attained," and unconsciously settle down at ease. No wonder if the next thing they experience is the woe upon those who are at ease in Zion, and then comes the hard conflict to regain what they have lost. Those persons need an entire transformation. Only "he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." Such an one is pavilioned by the angels; with his mind staid on God, he has peace all the time. If trials do succeed his blessings, he counts these trials his greatest blessings; they are no "sorrow" to him. He rejoices in the tribulations which fit him for the society of heaven.

God wants us to thoroughly, unselfishly enjoy his blessings, giving him the glory. When we give good things to our child, we are happy in seeing him enjoy them, and we expect he will love and trust us more for the gift. God is our Father, and it is reasonable to believe he is not unlike earthly fathers in these things. He is infinitely better in every respect.