SEP 29
September 29.
"Now tell me as I stand before the Lord and before his anointed one—whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong." "No," they replied, "you have never cheated or oppressed us in any way, and you have never taken even a single bribe." 1 Samuel 12:3-4
It is a noble testimony to the purity and nobleness of a man's life, that in his old age, not a voice can utter a word of complaint against him. Especially is it so, when a man has lived all his days in public, in the eyes of his neighbors, charged with sacred trusts. The life of Jesus was thus unblamable. Even his enemies, searching with all the keenness of their wicked malice, could find not the slightest thing with which to accuse him.
The aim of everyone of us, should be to so live, that when we come to the close of our days—no one can lay any wrong or injury to our charge. It is a sweet joy in our last hours to have others say to us with unanimous voice, "You have never done anything to harm us. You have never treated us unkindly. You never robbed us of anything. You have been only and always kind to us. You have comforted our sorrows. You have encouraged us in our toils, tasks, and trials. You have helped us in all ways, generously, unselfishly, thoughtfully. You have done us nothing but good." To have such a testimony at the last, one must begin early to live an upright, helpful life, and must never allow his hand to slacken until it is folded on his bosom in its final rest.