| The Way of Victory |
Chapter 3 |
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Those who profit by God’s correction shall obtain favour of the Lord. It is certainly worth while to have the Lord’s favour. If we know that He is smiling upon us we need not mind what the world thinks. It was very sweet for Mary, when the disciples were finding fault, to have Jesus say: “She hath wrought a good work. She hath done what she could.” This approval of the Master healed the hurt the disciples’ unfit words had caused. Here we are told that a good man obtains God’s favour. “A good man” is one who loves God and does His will. It does not say a great man, nor a wise man, nor a rich man, nor a strong man, nor a man of rank. If either of these were the qualification required there would be a great many people who never could obtain the divine favour, for not very many of us are either great or wise or rich or noble. But the qualification is a good man. That is within the reach of all of us. If only we are good it matters not what our condition in other regards may be. The other side of this proverb is also instructive. “A man of wicked devices will He condemn.” Again, it is not poverty nor ignorance nor commonplace condition that misses the Lord’s favour, but a bad heart, one full of intrigue, scheming and evil designs against others. If we would have God’s favour we must keep a gentle heart.
Yet many people think they can make the most of their life by wickedness. They think a good life is slow and commonplace. They think common honesty quite too oldfashioned a way for men who want to get on in the world. They consider God’s commandments altogether unsuited as foundation for a fortune. They want to get rich quickly, without waiting to gather money in honest ways. They think they can establish themselves much more securely and comfortably by taking things in their own hands and piling up a big castle of wealth by methods that God’s Word brands as wicked. Yes; and for a time they seem to succeed. The Bible says something about the wicked prospering like a green bay tree. But at length they will find that there is no rock under all their magnificent building, nothing but loose sand, and the whole grand fabric will topple to ruin. Or if the earthly pile does stand for awhile it amounts to nothing as a refuge for their souls, for death comes and drives them out of it into eternal homelessness.
Some people think they can pretend to be righteous and all will be well with them. But there must be something more than seeming righteousness. Even the thoughts of the righteous are just. God takes note of thoughts.
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