WHAT TO DO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22504, 23 February 1935, Page 23

WHAT TO DO

Written for the Otago Daily Times. By the Rev. D. Gardner Miller. Away back hundreds and hundreds of years ago a deputation called upon a young prophet and asked his advice about a matter of great importance. The young prophet’s name was Zechariah, and a number of his vision's and comments are incorporated in the Old Testament under his own.name. After he had answered the question of the deputation he began to tell them, under inspiration of God, how they should live. The interesting thing about his advice —or set of rules — is this, that what he said then is applicable to our own day. 1 mean that the request might have been made yesterday, and you and I might have been members of the deputation. The Bible speaks continuously through the centuries, and happy the people w’ho pay attention. The advice he gave was as follows —you will find it in the eighth chapter, verses 16 and 17: —“These are the things that ye shall do; speak ye every man the truth with his neighbour, execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against your neighbour; and love no false oath; for all these are things that 1 hate, eaith the Lord.” , Put into our own way of speaking, it means, “ Speak the truth, be just, think no evil.” And if that is not only good advice but also an unswerving rule of living then I am lost in my own ignorance. Notice the boldness of the statement , that there are some things the Lord hates. Some folks think that it is impossible for God to hate, seeing He is love. But is not hatred a necessary part of love? Love must always hate the wrong. It is because love hates anything and everything that mars life and makes people wretched that it goes all the way to put things right. Love is not mere amiability; it is open-eyed and fearless, and sees things as they are and tries to mend them. God must hate or He could not be love. _ But His hatred of the wrong leads Him to remove it, not merely to condemn it. ft you turn up the sixth chapter of Proverbs, verse 10, you will find a of seven things the Lord hateth. There be six things the Lord hateth; yea seven which are an abomination unto Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief; a false witness that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Notice the close connection between Proverbs and Zechariah. But to return to the things we must do, I have something to say, very specially, about one of them.

" Speak the Truth.” I expect everyone of us knows what it is to be caught telling a lie. Even though it be what people call a “ white ” lie—as if a lie could be anything other than “ black ” —we _ are humiliated, unless we are brazen liars, when we are , found out. To love the truth and to speak truly are surely true marks of the lady and gentleman. Some people there are who are fond of telling others' —seldom have they the courage to tell themselves—the “ brutal ” truth. What a colossal stupidity that is! Truth in itself ig never brutal. It is frank and it has only one purpose, that is, to put things right. The “ brutality" is the method whereby someone uses the truth in order that someone else might squirm. A Christian should always speak the truth in love —and when you do that you will never willingly hurt' anyone.

And to be just is surely a rule that we should hold as inflexible. Before you can be just to- any person you must rid yourself ,o£ bias. And that is not easy. Justice is a lovely figure even if she is blindfolded. I have always objected to the bandage round the eyes of Justice. I think it is only as a matter is viewed with open, candid eyes, that justice can be dispensed. Don’t be continually weighing people in the balance and finding them short-weight. That is not justice; it is jealousy and meanness. To bo just i» to toko everything into account and then do the right thing—m love —especially if you have been in the wrong. But the matter that exercises me most is the third rule which the young prophet Zechariah lived down, “Think no evil.” Our Lord Jesus Christ was very insistent upon the same point. I know of no greater and more salutary lesson that all of us should learn and take to' heart than that of curbing the imagination. God alone knows how many kindly dispositions have been warped, lives turned sour—aye, homes broken—because of the continued thinking of evil things about others. I know from ray experience in psychological work haw the rioting and uncontrolled imagining of evil things has made life, for many, perfectly miserable. It is true .beyond doubt that where the imagination and the will are in conflict the imagination wins. Our task is so to curb and control and “lift up” our imaginations that our lives shall be enriched and not made miserable by the things that never happen I can recall people who so gave themselves up to evil thoughts that ultimatly their physical health broke down. Why will we think evilly of others? Why will we picture an absent one doing and saying things that are despicable? Think no evil and you will preserve your balance. Our Lord spoke very grave words about living in actual sin in our thought life.

How can one control one’s thoughts? Is it possible to curb the evil thoughts which, despite our will, take possession of our minds? Thfere is a way of release —a way whereby a check is placed upon turbulent thoughts, a way whereby evilthinking of others is nipped in the bud. It is the way I personally practice, and I have seen it work miracles in many a distracted soul who found his way to my study. First thing in the' morning surrender yourself to Christ. This is not merely using words; —it is a deliberate opening of your mind and heart and letting Christ see every nook and cranny, every unjust thought, every evil intention I —and, having dope that, quietly asking Him to take full possession. That sounds easy, but practise it and you will find that it is rigorous and salutary. Few of ; us come to real grips with Spiritual power in- our prayers because we are not prepared to surrender absolutely everything—especially our prejudices. And the last thing at night reconcile your differences. By that I mean don’t shut your eyes in sleep harbouring an unkind thought about anyone. Where you have done wrong during the day, deliberately make up your mind to put that matter right on the very first opportunity. Let God hear from your murmuring lips a willingness to forgive and a readiness to understand —and your sleep will be sweet and your mind cleansed. By following these suggestions yon will find, slowly, perhaps, but nevertheless surely, that the mind of Christ is taking possession of your mind, and He always spoke the truth, was always just and thought no evil of anyone.

Let me commend tq-you two very striking books. “ The Life of Dr Donald Fraser of Livingstonia ” (Hodder and Stoughton, Is 6d), and " Pschology and Life,” by Leslie Weatherhead (Hodder and Stoughton, ss). The first book is written by the wife of Dr Fraser, and is a book to thank God for. It will rank high in missionary biographies. It is great reading. Weatherhead’s book is a masterpiece. It is sane in its outlook, and the advice it offers could not be bettered. Many a problem of your mental life will be solved by reading this book.