'What more are you doing

" What more are you doing than others? " Matthew 5:47

We are at much pains to please the honored and beloved friend who stays with us a day or a week. We give him the best room. We shape all our household life, our engagements, our occupations, our hours, our meals, our pleasures, our conversation — to make him happy. We try to be at our best in our behavior. We seek to make the home atmosphere congenial to him.

What kind of home should we make ours when Christ, the Son of God, is our guest? Love should abound. Jesus was glad to be guest in the home of Martha and Mary. If there be any nagging, wrangling, contention, strife, unrest in that home — would He have continued to come and to stay there? The Christian's home should be happier, brighter, heavenlier, than the one next door where Christ is not a guest.

The same test should be applied to business life. Is the Christian's store a different kind of store from that of his neighbor, who is not a Christian? Is the business done in a different way, a way that distinctly characterizes it as ruled by the Lord Jesus? Are different methods employed? Are people who buy goods any surer of being honestly dealt with in a Christian-man's store, than they are in the store of Mr. Worldly-man, on the other side of the street? Do they receive more courteous treatment? Is there a higher standard of business honesty in it?

Is the Christian carpenter a better carpenter, and does he work more skillfully and more conscientiously than the carpenter over the way who does not follow Christ? Is the Christian builder a better builder than the one who is not a Christian? Does he put more honest work into his houses, better materials, better masonry, better carpentering, better plumbing, better roofing, than the other man does?

A successful business man was asked for the primary rule of Christian business life. He answered, "To think of the other man." He said, in explanation: "I can afford to lose in a transaction — but I cannot afford to have my customer lose. I may be the victim of misrepresentation — but I must never allow him to suffer from false statements or from any concealed defects in the goods I sell him. He must learn to trust me implicitly and to know that I would a hundred times rather suffer myself, than to cause or allow him to suffer."

This is the only wise business policy, as well as the only right thing to do. A business man cannot afford to take advantage of his customer. It is suicidal for him to do so. He may pocket a little more money once or twice — but he has lost his reputation , which is his best asset. While this is good business, it is also good religion. We must think of the other man's interest, as well as our own, before our own. How is it in fact among Christian people? What do Christian business men do more than those who are not Christians? Does the world see any difference?

The same rule should apply in our personal relations with others. Is there anything in our life and character and conduct, which distinguishes us from those who are not Christians? Are we kinder than they are? Are we more patient ? Are we more thoughtful and unselfish ? Are we more helpful as neighbors?

"So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do unto you!" Matthew 7:12

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