GETTING BY GIVING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 244, 15 October 1932, Page 1 (Supplement)

GETTING BY GIVING

THE SECRET OF REAL LIFE (H.GG.) The love of Christ constrains us to a purposive life, which docs not necessarily mean a narrow, circumscribed life In seeking first the kingdom of God we have all things added unto us. “For all belongs to you; Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, the present and the future —all belong to you; and you belong to Christ, and Christ to God.” Here is William Carey, “the Father of Modern Missions.” See this

little cobbler-schoolmaster-evangelist-pastor hammering at the last, enthusing his pupils with a world vision, busy district preaching and giving himself to the study of botany. A friend expostulates with him for neglecting his business, his shoe-making. “Neglecting my business!” answers Carey. “Aly business, sir, is to extend the kingdom of Christ. I only' make and mend shoes to pay expenses.” Hearken to the stirring challenge he hurls at the Baptists of England: “Enlarge the place of thy tent and let them stretch forth the curtain of thy habitation.” As once more his colleagues quench the Spirit and make the great refusal, all the disappointments of God surge through him.

“Desperate tides of the world’s anguish Forced through the channels of a single heart.”

Turning to Andrew Fuller, that ‘athlete alike of body and mind,’ and gripping his arm, Carey cries, “is there nothing again to be done, sir?” Space forbids to tell of Fuller’s acceptance of the challenge; of the sera phic Samuel Pearce burning uut his life in the fierce flames of missionary zeal; of Sutcliffe, Ryland and others holding the ropes in England through good report and evil report; of Carey, Thomas, Marshman and Ward struggling and sweating and witnessing through the most heart-breaking years, and then suffering slights, calumny and impudence from many who knew not the first letter of self-denial. The Holy Spirit of God filled them with love abounding unto all. But 1 would have you note the wide range of Carey’s vision and the host of interests he had in many directions. From learning a multiplicity of languages for translation and teaching purposes, to exchanging plants and seeds with botanists and horticulturists all over the world, Carey’s life abounded in the rich treasures of life through the constraining love of Christ in his heart. Here is David Livingstone. How fully he responded to the advice of his old Sunday School teacher, “Make religion the everyday business of your life and not a thing of fits and

starts,” is scon in Professor Henry Drummond’s words: “Wherever David Livingstone’s footsteps are crossed in Africa the fragrance of his memory seems to remain.” Some tried to censure Livingstone by describing him as an explorer rather than a missionary. They could not understand the breadth of his interests and the depth of his observations. When home on his rare visits his time was taken up by imparting scientific results as much as depicting specifically missionary activity. See him blazing a trail through a pathless wilderness or jungle growth, enduring untold hardship that others may know how to penetrate and subjugate for Christ; bearing the awful burden of the infamy and anguish of the slave traffic that his negro brothers might, be free; dying on his knees, as he is burnt up with fever in blood and soul. Livingstone’s activities were immense in length and breadth and deep because of the loftiness of his aspirations. Constrained by the love of Christ, he found all things his. This love ,of Christ gave purpose to the life of a young medical student, sent him out to a mission on stormy seas, then through voice and pen to lay hold of youth and adult for the kingdom of God. What an infinite fulness there is in the life of Sir Wil fred Grenfell. The unconventional in the story of his conversion always appeals to me. As a young medical student, he chanced to turn into on? of Moody’s great tent meetings in the slums of East London. He was amazed to see on the platform several men whose athletic prowess was worldfamed. That was a credential to him that it was worth stopping to listen to what, was going to be said. Grenfell declares himself still a believer in athletic success as an invaluable asset to a preacher. “Christ. I am sure,” he writes, “wants football, golf ami track team men in an age when theolo gieal expositions, however deep and learned, when orthodoxy, conventional ity. or even correct vestments an 1 ritual have so little attractions for th’c

young men who will be leaders tomorrow.” It so happened that an aged man began the meeting with a long rambling prayer which had no interest for Grenfell. He started to leave, when suddenly Moody rose and said, “Let us sing a hymn while our brother finishes his prayer.” The simple commonsense in a pious man was a revelation to the young medical student. He stayed the meeting ou> and as a result, look Christ as his Saviour and crowned Him King of his life. Some can only \ ision the Lordship of Christ, over a man’s life in the light of the condition imposed on the riel) young ruler: “Sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the poor and thou shalt. have treasuie in Heaxen; and come, follow Me.” 'l’hey forget many others who were told to follow Him by pursuing the <»I<1 line of life with a new purpose and a widened horizon. Grenfell went on with his medical course but found that the con straining love of Christ impelled him to a life of fuller interests and deeper devotion. The only other time ho met Moody was in a Boston hotel fourteen years later, when lie told the evangelist the story of his conversion. “What have you been doing since?” came tlio question. Grenfell told of his life overflowing with intense service. Moodv’s only comment was:

“Well, you don't repent it, do you.’’’ “Certainly not.” That, is the answer of every man and woman who is truly const rainei by the love of Christ. So much has been made ot self-denial, sacrifice and cross bearing that it is no wonder some have conceived the following of Christ to be little else than heaviness and gloom. They have failed to grasp the tact that to be crucified with Christ is also to live with Him. A young girl with fair skin and aquiline features was told of hei negro ancestors. She had to face the question ot her obligations to those whose blood she shared until it, became a sleepless anguish. She went down to their meetings. iShe mingled with them in closer contact, to find that her training had given her a revulsion to their habits and ways. For months she stood before her cross. But. at last she denied seif, shouldered her cross and followed Christ in striving to uplift the long enslaved African people. Then she found life. The great sacrifice of Christ only redeems those whom it inspires.