THE SIN OF SELF-PITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 230, 28 September 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SIN OF SELF-PITY.

"MAY DO GREAT HARM."

These notes are taken from a sermon published in tho "Outlook" on the sin of self-pity. It is from tho pen of the Eev. R. G. McDowall, of St. Clair Presbyterian Church, Dunedin.

"A musician was playing on an important occasion when one string of his violin broke. He did not stop playing, but showed his mastery of tho instrument by completing the composition on three strings. Thcro is nothing finer than to seo men and women whoso lives havo been shattered cheerfully gathering together tho fragments that aro left and making the utmost use of them they can. Christ enables u~.cn to do this. When life docs not present us with tho op^»irtunities and privileges which it gives to others we aro apt to ba envious of them and to pity ourselves because wo arc not so happily circumstanced as they are. A great deal of tho complaint and agitation against tho wealthy is due not to a real concern for tho poor, but to envy and self-pity. If the people who complain against tho rich were themselves made rich, then complaints would in many cases cease, though the, poor would still be with them. Some are born to plenty, while others have to struggle to get what they need as they struggle towards their appointed place in life. In such circumstances we are apt to envy others and pity ourselves. Such pity invariably sours our life and saps our moral fibre. It never does us any good—it may do us irreparable harm.

Young People and Church. '"Wo arc apt to envy those who are free to do as they like, while we are placed under certain restraints, either by some outward authority or by our conscience. The Bible speaks often of this, saying, ' Eret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.' There are times when people harbour a secret desire to do what others do and what conscience condemns. Young people are expected by their parents to go to church. They see others who do not do bo, and become envious of their freedom, and are irked by the restraints placed on themselves. They pity themselves and in the end create an attitude of antagonism towards the Church. Older people do the same. Many excuse themselves for their failure to attend church by saying that they were made to go to church when they were young and had too much of it. Beneath that grumbling attitude in many instances lies self-pity. These people owe an untold debt to the Christian Church. Through her they have received all that is of abiding value in their lives, a|id much which they treasure, but they fail to realise this because they have pitied themselves and have soured their lives thereby. Watch against this attitude. 'Put Your Face to the Storm.'

"In the prophecies of Ezekiel we are told that the prophet fell on his face before God, but God said to him: 'Child of man, stand upon thy feet and I will speak unto fhee.' That is significant. When we come to worship in the grudging, self-pitying spirit, God does not speak in us. When we come with willing hearts and open minds He does speak and we hear. When we cringe .before the events of life, however hard they may be, and pity ourselves, they bring us no harvest from God. But when we stand up bravely to meet them in the grace and strength of Christ, God speaks to us through them, and it is by His word that wo live. Watch against this sin in all life's circumstances. Put your face to the storms of life, and seek in Christ the power to do what you yourself cannot do, and you will know a joy and a peace which pass knowledge."