February 24

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient." —1 Corinthians 10:23.

DID St. Paul live a pauperised and meagre life, because all things were lawful to him but all things were not expedient—because he was perpetually denying himself out of love for others? Not at all. The very reverse is true.

This was how he grew in strength and nobleness himself. The discipline prospered his own soul. It gave him wisdom and insight. It gave him courage and endurance. It gave him sympathy and considerateness. It gave him deep restfulness and glowing joy. He gained by it inward vigour, and the glow of spiritual health, and life in its fire and force and fulness.

And this was how he won the hearts of men and women. They saw that his was a yearning tenderness for them, which made him careless of his own comforts, if only they were advantaged and blessed. And so they were conquered, and melted, and led willing prisoners. He drew them by the magnetism of his brotherliness, and they followed on.

And this was how he learned the secret of fellowship with Jesus. Christ pleased not Himself; and the servant came very close to the Master, and the Master to the servant, just as the servant took up his cross and gloried in it as he carried it in his arms. His little lamp was lighted from the flame about the Saviour's sacrifice.

So St. Paul lived in a wealthy place, because he looked perpetually not on his own things, but on the things of others. Let me master the truth. I shall never regret the surrender and sacrifice of my desires and predilections. It is my own wisdom, as well as my Lord's wish and will.