| The Way of Victory |
Chapter 4 |
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But we must not listen to all the words we hear just because they sound pleasant. Not all words are words of wisdom, and not all apparently honeyed words are words of help. Sometimes such words are spoken to turn us into a path that looks pleasant, but alas! its end is anything but pleasant, for we must always remember that “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.” Things are not always what they seem. There are flowers which look very beautiful, but which have poison in them. Unaware of the danger one gathers his hands full of these flowers, and by-and-by finds himself poisoned. So there are things in life which seem to be beautiful, but which bring only hurt and suffering to him who touches them. There are kinds of amusement which seem to certain young people to be pleasant, but which start evil thoughts. There are friendships which at first, with their sparkle and attractiveness, seem to be beautiful and good, but which, if accepted, bring evil. A great many wrecks in life come through wrong companionships. Young people should be exceedingly careful whom they accept as their friends. No one but the good can do us good. Some boys and young men think they can take a glass of strong drink now and then without any danger. They think they will never become drunkards. They only laugh at you if you warn them of the danger. But the end of this way is death.
Yet appetite may be a good thing. The appetite of the labouring man drives him to his work, and work is one of the best blessings of this world. Idleness is always cursed. The worst thing that can happen to a boy or young fellow is to have nothing to do. But the next worst thing is to get a position with short hours and large pay. The safest condition for any of us is to be always busy. There is an old saying about somebody finding mischief still for idle hands to do. So hunger is a good thing. It tells that a man is healthy. When one loses appetite there is something seriously wrong with one’s condition. When one is always ready for his meals he is pretty sure to be a well man. It is a good thing, too, to have spiritual hunger-the desire for more of goodness and all Christlike things. Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
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