35 - Concern for the Individual

LET YOUR CONCERN be over individuals—not meetings nor a work,” Mrs. R. counseled some young min­isters. “Be concerned that that soul might not be saved, or that soul might not know about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” If Mrs. R. thus admonished, she first practiced what she preached. Like the Apostle Paul, she labored to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Consequently, she was intensely interested in the individual—man, woman, or child— and, as has already been suggested, a large part of her min­istry was personal. “Many people besieged this little woman with requests for interviews and advice—just to mention a fraction of her pre-occupations,” says Ruth Brooks, “but in it all, she showed a loving concern for each one. Some of them, we would quickly have written off our books. One of these, an eccentric of the first magnitude, was mentioned to Mrs. Robinson in a manner unmistakably unflattering. Her response to the criticism was to the effect that this one, whom God loved, also loved Him more than many others who were more pre­possessing outwardly. It was this kind of person, likely to be ignored, whom Mrs. Robinson took special care to notice and befriend.” Again, on occasion, the Lord would lead Mrs. R. to speak to some about their spiritual condition without their having asked for specific help, and thereby reveal to them both their need and the way out of their difficulties. When ap­pealed to, Mrs. R. did not forthwith take up a case, but would turn the request over to the Lord to see what He would have her do about it. Sometimes she might state, as she did at one time, “I wouldn’t want to take this matter up unless the Lord did, but perhaps He will have me do so sometime.” So she would await the Lord’s pleasure in each case. Perhaps He would have her consider it at once, or, as in the instance just cited, not until over four months later. Or maybe the Lord would not take up the question at all or have her refer the individual to someone else whom He indicated should handle the particular problem. In any case, Mrs. R. never presumed to give her own judgment or what she might consider good advice “in the natural.” Long since she had learned that her thoughts were not necessarily God’s thoughts nor her ways His ways, that to advise according to one’s own understanding is not only dangerous but often or usually erroneous and hence wrong and fraught with possible disastrous consequences. There­fore, she refused to give counsel unless she was absolutely certain that it was of the Lord, waiting upon Him to teach her exactly what He wanted her to say or advise. Sometimes such teaching, when given, might be in public or again it might be in her office or “teaching room,” as it was called. Again the Lord might make her to know His will in writing and give her a letter for the person in need. In this way, the person would have it in permanent form so that he could meditate and pray over it more readily and so get the full benefit of the teaching. An excellent example of one of these teaching letters is one “received July 18, 1914,” by a businessman who had been well known throughout the United States. Having found food for his soul in the Faith Homes, he attended the services as often as possible, eager for any instruction the Lord might give him, publicly or privately. Daily, for years, he arose at two o’clock in the morning so that he might spend four hours in prayer and Bible study before going to his office where he was occupied for a full day of business. The Lord, seeing this man’s intense desire to please Him and to be delivered from those things in his nature which hindered his spiritual progress, used Mrs. Robinson to give him help by means of a letter. First, he was told just how he had let the enemy into his life so that he developed “a pettish or peevish” disposition over anything that disappoints him.” Of course, when this had begun some twenty-five years before, it was not “a great noticeable fault.” Slowly but steadily and surely these at­titudes of peevishness increased until they had “a large control” of at least a part of his nature. “His attitudes of disappointment, peevishness, and so forth, are usually rather exaggerated or extreme in comparison with the actual cause, often being severe and pronounced both inwardly and in outward appearance, over trifles that under some other condition would not be counted by him worthy of attention,” Mrs. R. explained in the letter. “The key or cause of these disappointed attitudes often can be found in the fact that some party was not quite pleasing, and it is not a mere personal disappointment, but a hidden, peevish criti­cism about another’s actions. “To get out of this difficulty of his life, he should aim to praise at all times, over all his mistakes and over all others’ mistakes, over all disappointments, and people’s blunders. ‘Rejoice in the Lord alway’ is the Lord’s commandment. As the feeling of disappointment comes upon him, he should be watchful—at once rise up against it—keep clear of it—stop it— commit it to the Lord—let it alone—think away from it—speak happily—keep bright in countenance—never mind what hap­pens, rest—and let it be in God’s hands. “Large trouble, small trouble, keen disappointment, light one, keep in praise and faith, and look away from it and yourself to Jesus with grace to blame no one for small trifles, nor large ones if people meant well—and if they did not, leave it to God. “I am the Lord. These are My words to you. Be in earnest; I will provide help for all your needs.” Later, he received another letter, a word of encouragement, that the Lord saw that he had been growing, “not a little, but much. “Can he feel Jesus in him? Not as he might if he had the light to know. . . Jesus was all the time in his life—in him— causing all his praises and rest and love.” Then he was told to call on the Lord to fulfill for him as Christ lived in him and witnessed by him how Jesus loves, for he was to be Christ’s instrument to show forth Himself and His love to the men and women about him in the business world. Furthermore, if he would be diligent “all the time” just to see the Lord, think of Him, care for Him, bend his will to His will, someone else would be made to see Christ better each day because of his example. He should talk about Christ to others, but he should be sure to witness also by being patient and kind and keeping his “soul in love and grace and faith,” all of which things count in glorifying the name of the Lord.