Adding to the Stock
We all contribute to a general stock of evil in the world, and it is essential to take responsibility for our actions and their impact.
Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of hating evil for those who love the Lord, highlighting how each individual contributes to the general stock of evil in the world through their actions, words, and attitudes. She warns against defending or making light of wrongdoing, as it actively augments the common fund of wickedness that can lead to more serious crimes. Tileston urges believers to be conscious of their contributions to this evil and to strive to diminish it through righteous living and upholding God's standards.
Text
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.
PSALMS 97:10
THERE is a general stock of evil in the world to which we all contribute, or which, by God's grace, some may diminish; a vast and fertile tract of ungodliness, of low motives, of low aims, of low desires, of low sense of duty or no sense at all. it is the creation of ages, that tradition; but each age does something for it, and each individual in each age does, if he does not advisedly refuse to do, his share in augmenting it, just as the chimney of every small house does something to thicken and darken the air of London. And this general fund or stock of evil touches us all like the common atmosphere which we breathe. And thus it is that when you or I, even in lesser matters, do or say what our conscience condemns, we do really make a contribution to that general fund of wickedness which, in other circumstances and social conditions than ours, produces flagrant crime. Especially if it should happen that we defend what we do, or make light of it, or make a joke of the misdeeds of others, we do most actively and seriously augment this common fund or tradition of wickedness.
HENRY PARRY LIDDON
Sermon Outline
- The General Stock of Evil
- The Impact of Our Actions
- The Importance of Conscience
- Our conscience condemns actions that contribute to evil
- We must take responsibility for our actions and their impact
Key Quotes
“Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“The chimney of every small house does something to thicken and darken the air of London.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“When you or I, even in lesser matters, do or say what our conscience condemns, we do really make a contribution to that general fund of wickedness...” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Be mindful of the impact of your actions and take responsibility for contributing to evil.
- Listen to your conscience and avoid doing or saying things that it condemns.
- Defend and speak out against the misdeeds of others, rather than making light of them.