Do you seek great things for yourself?
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"Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not." Jeremiah 45:5
O the pride of man's heart! How it will work and show itself even under a guise of religion and holiness! Few can see that in religion, what are considered great things, are really very little—and what are considered little, are really very great.
How few can see that a broken heart—a contrite spirit—a humble mind—a tender conscience—a meek, quiet, and patient bearing of the cross—a believing submission and resignation to the will of God—a looking to Him alone, for all supplies in providence and grace—a continual seeking of His face—a desiring nothing so much as the visitations of His favour—a loving, affectionate, forbearing, and forgiving spirit—a bearing of injuries and reproaches without retaliation—a liberal heart and hand—and a godly, holy, and separate life and walk—are the things which in God's sight are great, while a knowledge of doctrine, clear insight into gospel mysteries, and a ready speech are really very little things—and are often to be found side by side and hand in hand with a proud, covetous, worldly, unhumbled spirit, and a living in what is sinful and evil.
How many ministers are seeking after great gifts—thirsting after popularity, applause, and acceptance among men! They are not satisfied with being simply and solely what God may make them by His Spirit and grace—with the blessing which He may make them to a scattered few here and there. This inferior position, as they consider it, so beneath their grace and gifts, their talents and abilities—does not satisfy their restless mind and aspiring desires.
Their ambition is to stand at the very head of their peers—be looked up to and sought after as a leader and a guide—have a larger building—have a fuller congregation—have a better salary—and have a wider field for the display of their gifts and abilities. Gladly would they stand apart from all others, brook no rival to their 'pulpit throne,' and be lord paramount at home and abroad. And what is the consequence of this proud, ambitious spirit?
Whatenvy, what jealousy, what detraction do we see in men who want to stand at the top of the tree! How, again and again, do they seek to rise by standing, as it were—on the slain bodies of others! Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not!
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