p. 279 | A RACE FOR THE PRIZE by Dr. Cuyler

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 23, 1881

A RACE FOR THE PRIZE.

By Dr. Cuyler

"Just what things must I give up?" To this the Bible answer is, that you must surrender everything that hinders your growth in grace. If certain practices, or an attendance upon certain places, hinder your spiritual progress, then be done with them! We are inclined to believe that church members slip into the theater oftener than in former times. They are not apt to come out holier than they went in; and their example helps to increase the tide towards the play-house door. Wherever there is a doubt in your mind in regard to an amusement, give your Master the benefit of the doubt, and stay out of it. Just on this doubtful territory it is that we see so many unhappy falls.

We also firmly believe that Christians ought to surrender very often their rights to lawful things; for by so doing they may remove stumbling-blocks out of the path of others, and strengthen their own graces. The Greek racer denied himself many lawful indulgences. So should a follower of Jesus whenever self-denial will increase his spiritual sinew. Too much is said in these days against "asceticism;" but the danger of the church does not lie in that direction. Satin cloaks are more in vogue than "hair shirts."

Daily food is a lawful indulgence. But fasting is sometimes profitable for both body and soul. Many luxuries of domestic life are lawful in themselves; to give them up in order to have more money for benevolent uses, or in order to discourage social extravagances, is a dictate of pure Christianity. John Wesley had a right to own silver plate, yet he nobly refused to possess more than two or three silver spoons "while so many poor people were lacking bread." An excellent man in my congregation sold his carriage just as soon as he found that his horses were eating up his charity fund too fast. My friend is no ascetic. He is a very sensible and sunshiny Christian. If the same spirit which actuated him was more common in the church, there would be fewer luxurious equipages, fewer wine bottles, fewer card tables, fewer sumptuous evening parties; but there would be more missionaries in the West, and more Bibles in China and Japan. Self-indulgence lives under the clouds. Self-denial soars above them.—Dr. Cuyler.