January 22
Let Me Look the Whole World in the Face
In the Hour of Silence"Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."—2 Corinthians 8:21.
PROVIDING things honest—it is the best and noblest rule.
It is the way of Jesus Christ. He was so poor that He had not where to lay His head, yet He was careful to owe no man anything. Render unto Cæsar, He said, the things which are Cæsar's. That take, He said about the temple shekel, and give unto them for Me and thee. My dear and glorious Lord, to whom all men in their hopeless bankruptcy were deep in debt, was Himself in debt to none. And I must walk in my Master's footsteps.
It is the certificate to the world. The sharp-eyed world judges of religion, approves it or condemns it, by the ethics of the disciple. It knows that "the unity of physics is the atom, of biology the cell, of philosophy the man, of theology the Christian"; and so it is watching my character keenly and carefully. If it finds me scrupulously honourable, true to my word, anxious to meet every claim, it will think well of my faith and my King.
It is the herb of Heart's-Ease to myself. I have little rest or peace, if I do not provide things honest. My conscience condemns me; my thoughts are troubled and distressed; I am the haunted victim of a hundred forebodings and fears. But I look the whole world in the face, when I think only of the things which are true and lovely and of good report. I live in a peaceable habitation through spring and summer and autumn and winter.
Yes, it is the best and noblest rule.