SERVICE FOR OTHERS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1935, Page 7

SERVICE FOR OTHERS

GREATNESS IN COMMON THINGS. EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. The expression of Christianity by service for others and by so doing to impress upon non-Christians the value of religion in daily life was the subject chosen by the Rev. H. W. Austin, chaplain of Wanganui Collegiate School, in a sermon at St. Mary’s Church, New Plymouth, last night, when members of the teachers’ summer school attended. Christians could not expect to impress others without themselves giving expression to the vitality of their religion, said Mr. Austin. They called themselves the servants of Jesus Christ, who Himself was the most wonderful servant the world had ever seen. Yet in 2000 years the teaching of Jesus Christ had made little impression on the world and the fault lay with those who called themselves Christians. Jesus was magnificent oh the Cross; He was supreme in His resurrection; He was also wonderfully great in His daily life. He prepared for the big event, the Cross, that he knew was ahead, by wandering about the towns and villages, giving advice, healing the sick and discussing matters of belief and the ordinary cares of life with his disciples. So, too, must Christians express their love and service for Him in service for others. It was not in the great things of life, for few had the opportunity for such service, but in the every-day work that this service must be performed. By doing this man could consecrate the commonplace in life and learn to live gloriously. To do the small services for which there would be no concern if they were not done and no credit given because mey were was sometimes the finest heroism. There was no service loftier than service for Jesus Christ. Judging service by Christian standards of value might make one consider things one had considered great were really small, and those one had thought small of real importance. By expressing the love of Christ in the service of man, by carrying out the commonplace duties of life as an expression of loyalty, love and devotion to the Master would sanctify life’s trifles, and when the end of the journey was reached Christians would hear Him say: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful in little things, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”