Gold Nugget 344 - Truth versus Self

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      Every man may say that he is the best judge of what concerns himself.  But two considerations modify that contention.  1. No one truly knows himself.  2. A man's doings are not confined to himself.  They cross the boundaries of other lives and interest.  Therefore, while a man is seemingly making an innocent demand concerning his own business, he is really claiming to be the judge of what affects his neighbors.  Hence the need of caution. …

      Judgment is prejudiced by previous opinions.  We all approach a subject with a stock of prepossessions.  Even while honestly intending to make a fair estimate, we cannot but apply the standards of our old set notions.  Hence the need of working out “the personal equation.”

      It is biased by self-interest.  This may be quite unintentional and unconscious.  We may not be aware that we are showing any favour to ourselves.  Yet so long as the selfishness of human nature remains as it is, there must be a secret weight in the scale inclining it to our own side.

      Not knowing ourselves, we misread our own position.  We give ourselves credit for aims that do not exist, and we disregard the real motives that actuate our conduct. … In private life, in public affairs, in theological controversies, we want to learn how to hear the other side.  The very difficulties of private judgment call for the correction that may be thus afforded. …

      We see the way in which a skilful counsel will break down the most plausible evidence by probing into its weak places; how he will worm secrets out of the most reticent witness.  Truth is often revealed through antagonism.  The man who prides himself on hoodwinking his fellows is foolish and short-sighted.  If his insincerity is not discovered on earth, it will be revealed at the great judgment. 

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs p. 355-356, Proverbs 18:17, (W. F. Adeney)

 

Gold Nugget 344

Truth versus Self

 

 

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Gold Nugget 343 - Slipping Through Their Hands

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      Those who have the very fairest chance of attaining to wisdom and usefulness sometimes wantonly throw it away.  The foolish boy, at the best school in the land, will refuse to learn, and comes out a dunce.  The foolish apprentice, with the best sources of technical or professional knowledge at his command, wastes his hours in frivolity, and when his time is up is utterly unfit for the occupation of his life.

      Information of what is happening all over the world may now be had for a penny a day, and, what is far more precious, the knowledge of the will of God as revealed in the life and by the lips of Jesus Christ may be had for twopence; but, with “the price of wisdom” at these figures, there are those who know nothing of the hopes or struggles of mankind, and nothing of the way to eternal life.

      Duty, secular and sacred, is immediately before the eyes of the foolish, but their gaze is fixed upon anything and everything else; they are dreaming, by day and by night, of impossible or of hopelessly improbably fortune, and while they might be patiently and successfully building up a good estate, the chances of life are slipping through their hands. …

      The wise man is he who makes the most and the best he can make of that which is within his reach, that which is “before his face.”  He does not spend time in looking and longing for that which is “at the ends of the earth;” he sets himself to cultivate the patch of ground, however small and poor, that is just outside his door.  He puts out his talents, however mean they may be.  He reads well his books, however limited his library may be.  He tries to serve others, however narrow his sphere may be.  So doing, he is in the way of constant growth and of a large reward. 

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs p. 346, Proverbs 17: 16, 24, (W. Clarkson)

 

Gold Nugget 343

Slipping Through Their Hands

Gold Nugget 342 - The Peacemakers

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      You cannot extinguish the conflagration, but you can stamp out the spark; you cannot stop the flow of the river, but you can dam the rill with the palm of your hand.  You cannot heal a great schism, but you can appease a personal dispute; or, what is better, you can recall the offensive word you have yourself spoken; or, what is better still, you can repress the rising thought, you can call in to your aid other thoughts which calm and soothe the soul; you can remember him who “bore such contradiction of sinners against himself,” who “as a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth,” and you can maintain a magnanimous silence.  When this is no longer possible, because the first inciting word has been uttered and resented, then let there be an earnest and determined effort to quell all heat in your own heart, and to pacify the one whose anger has been aroused.  “Blessed are the peacemakers …

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs p. 345-346, Proverbs 17:14, (W. Clarkson)

See also:  Matthew 5:25; Romans 12:18

 

Gold Nugget 342

The Peacemakers

 

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Gold Nugget 341 - The Grace of Silence

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      Often the interposition of a few words of explanation, removing an offence which would have grown into seriousness, will save a rupture.  Sometimes a kindly word of counsel or remonstrance to the imprudent or to the mistaken may have the same happy effect.  But, at other times, silence will save it. 

      We are too often tempted, even strongly tempted, to say that which would come between two human hearts.  To say what we know would only be to speak the truth; it would gratify the curiosity of those present; it would be a pleasant exercise of power or the use of an advantage we happen to possess.  The words rise to our very lips.  But no; it is not always our duty to say all that we know; it is often our duty to be silent.

      There are times when to “cover transgression” is an act of wisdom, of kindness, of generosity, of Christ-likeness.  Let the fact remain untold; let the hearts that have been united remain bound together; seek and secure the permanence of “love”. …

      There is always some occasion for silence in every man’s life.  No man is so correct in thought and speech that he could afford to have every utterance repeated to any one and every one.  We all want the kindly curtain of silence to be drawn over some sentences that pass our lips.

      There are always some thoughtless speakers – men and women who will carry injurious reports from house to house, from heart to heart; there are some who are cruelly careless what things they promulgate; there are some who consciously and guiltily enlarge and misrepresent, who form the dangerous and deadly habit of exaggeration, of false colouring, and who end in systematic falsehood.  Those who idly and foolishly report what is true are, indeed, less guilty than they who enlarge and pervert.  But they are far from guiltless. 

      We are responsible to God not only for the carefully prepared speech, but also for the casual interjection … It behooves us to remember that our brother’s reputation, usefulness, happiness, is in our charge, and one slight whisper may destroy it all.  One breath of unkindness may start a long train of sad consequences which we have no power at all to stop.  A very few unconsidered and unhappily uttered words may sever hearts that have been beating long in loving unison, may disunite lives that have been linked long in the bounds of happy love. 

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs p. 345, Proverbs 17:9, (W. Clarkson)

 

Gold Nugget 341

The Grace of Silence

 

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Gold Nugget 340 - The Greatest Earthly Heritage

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      “The glory of children are their fathers.”

      It is the greatest of all earthly heritages to have parents that can be esteemed and loved.  Happy is the son who, as his judgment matures, can honour his father with an undiminishing or even a growing regard and deepening joy.

      It is a very real delight to be able to look back, through all the later years of life, and recall the memories of the beloved and revered parents who have “passed into the skies.”  It is the duty of childhood to make the very best response it can make for the love, care, pains, patience, prayerful solicitude, its parents have expended upon it.  It will remain a lasting source of thankfulness and joy that every possible filial attention was paid that could be paid; lighting and smoothing the path of the parents to the very door of heaven.

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs p. 344, Proverbs 17:6, 21, 25, (W. Clarkson)

 

Gold Nugget 340

The Greatest Earthly Heritage

 

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Gold Nugget 339 - The Wisdom of Silence

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      An anxiety to talk is the mark of a shallow mind.  The knowledge of the season of silence and reserve may be compared to the wisdom of the general who knows when to keep his forces back and when to launch them at the foe.  The composed spirit comes from the knowledge that truth will prevail in one way or another and the time for our utterance will arrive. …

      Even the fool may gain some credit for wisdom which he does not possess by holding his tongue; and this is an index of the reality.  Our great example here is the silence of Jesus, continued for thirty years; out of that silence a voice at length proceeded that will ever vibrate through the world.

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs p. 343, Proverbs 17:27-28, (E. Johnson)

 

Gold Nugget 339

The Wisdom of Silence

 

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Gold Nugget 338 - The Guilty Nation

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      Morality has not yet been sufficiently applied to politics.  It is forgotten that the ten commandments relate to communities as well as to individuals, because they are based on the eternal and all-embracing principles of righteousness.  Men have yet to learn that that which is wrong in the individual is wrong in the society.

      Nations make war on one another for reasons which would never justify individual men in fighting a duel.  Yet if it is wrong for a man to steal a field, it must be wrong for a nation to steal a province; and if an individual man may not cut his neighbour’s throat out of revenge without being punished as a criminal, there is nothing to justify a whole community in shooting down thousands of people for no better motive.  If selfishness even is sinful in one man, selfishness cannot be virtuous in thirty millions of people.  The reign of righteousness must govern public and national movements if the will of God is to be respected. …

      There are national sins in the sense of sins committed by a great part of a nation – sins that shamefully characterize it. … The oppression of one class by another, a general prevalence of business dishonesty, a frivolous pleasure-seeking fashion, all affect the nation’s life when they are largely extended among any people.  These things eat out the very heart of a nation.  For a nation’s sin the punishment is on earth, because the nation goes on while individuals die, and so there is time for the deadly fruit of sin to ripen. …

      Wars of aggression may aggrandize the victorious people for a time.  But they rouse the hatred of their victims.  A high-handed policy thus multiplies a nation’s enemies.  It is dangerous to be an outlaw among the nations.  Above all, there is a just Ruler, who will put down the tyrant and punish the guilty nation. 

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs p. 281, Proverbs 14:34, (W. F. Adeney)

 

Gold Nugget 338

The Guilty Nation

 

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Gold Nugget 337 - The Calm, Strong, Silent Soul

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      The turbulent spirit is like a mutinous crew that may make tumult on board the ship while the sea is as still as glass, and the peaceful spirit is like a well-conducted crew that woks in quiet while the sea is torn with the tempest. …

      Some give more show than service, and make more noise than profit.  Eager to attract attention, they “sound a trumpet before them”.  Not so the quiet spirit, who labour in silence, content to be obscure so long as they know they are not living in vain. …

      “Still waters run deep.”  We can look far into the quiet lake, while only the surface-waves of one that is fretted with cross-winds can be seen.  The calm, brooding soul knows depths of thought and secret experience that are unfathomable to the foolish, restless, noisy soul. …

      The silent forest grows strong.  The mind is made vigorous by patient endurance.  On who is calm is master of the situation, while another who is fretted and flurried feels lost and helpless.  The calm, strong, silent soul, vigorous and yet unostentatious, ripens best the fruits of experience.  Such a one does most real work. …

      Selfishness makes us restless.  “A hear at leisure from itself” can learn to be patient and calm.

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs p. 280-281, Proverbs 14:30, (W. F. Adeney)

See also:  Matthew 6:2

 

Gold Nugget 337

The Calm, Strong, Silent Soul

 

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Gold Nugget 336 - The Remedy of Credulity

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      When a person is too hasty in believing without sufficient reason, and especially when he accepts statements on slight authority in opposition to a rational view, we call him credulous.  Credulity is just a disposition to believe without sufficient ground.

      It springs from mental weakness.  It is a mark of childishness, while faith is a sign of childlikeness.  The feeble mind is credulous.  Faith is virile, credulity anile.

      It is favoured by prejudice.  The credulous person is unduly ready to believe according to his desires.  So men say, “The wish is father to the thought.”

      It is increased by fear, which paralyzes the reasoning faculties and inclines people to believe in the most absurd impossibility.  The terrors of superstition ensnare the credulous. …

      It dishonours truth.  When a person shows indifference to the vital question as to whether what he believes is true or false, he displays a fatal disloyalty to truth.  For truth will not endure an admixture of falsehoods.  Therefore those very people who vainly imagine themselves to be the loyal and humble servants of the whole round of truths are the very persons who undermine the sanctity of truth itself.  

      It tempts to fatal acts.  Men act according to their beliefs.  If they believe lies, they will have the practical side of their lives flung into confusion.  Truth is a beacon-light; error sheds a false glare, like that of a wrecker’s lamp on a rock-bound coast.  It is dangerous to accept delusions of superstition with fatuous credulity.  Life is real and earnest, and men need true lights to guide them safely. …

      Note the remedy of credulity.  This is not to be found in unlimited skepticism.  The sceptic is often the slave of foolish fancies.  Escaping from Christian faith, perhaps he falls into spiritualism or some other equally wild delusion.

      Unbelief is not the remedy; for unbelief is but the reverse of faith.  Indeed, it is negative faith.  It is believing the negative of those propositions concerning which faith believes the affirmative.

      Agnosticism is not the remedy; for agnosticism is more than a confession of ignorance; it is an assertion that knowledge in certain regions is unattainable.  Thus it is dogmatic and possibly credulous.

      The remedy lies in well-grounded faith.  We must learn lessons of patience, and be willing at first to creep along step by step.  We need not wait to say, with Abelard, “Credo quia intelligo,” for we may accept mysteries which we cannot explain.  But we need to be satisfied that we have good ground for doing so.  Fundamentally, a wise Christian faith is trust in Christ, resting on an intelligent ground of assurance – that he is trustworthy. 

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs p. 280, Proverbs 14:15, (W. F. Adeney)

 

Gold Nugget 336

The Remedy of Credulity

 

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Gold Nugget 335 - Losing the Great Advantage

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      We sow in youth what we reap in young manhood; as we go on our way we gather in the harvest of the thought and toil of years that came before it.  But this applies to our moral and spiritual character more perfectly than to anything else.  How, then, can we afford to lose the great advantage of building up from the beginning?  Or manhood will be much the weaker for an ill-spent youth, and much the stronger for a well-spent one.  Our whole life will be greatly impoverished by the one, greatly enriched by the other.

      Godly youth is a source of pure and deep joy to those whom the young should be most desirous of pleasing – to those that have loved them and served them with tenderest solicitude and unfailing devotion. …

      No deadlier injury can be done to the young than forcing religious habit; constraining them to affect a language and to make a profession which is unreal, which will soon break down, and which will leave the heart far less open to all heavenly influences than it would have been.  To encourage it in every way that is in our power; more particularly by the exhibition of a consistent life and the manifestation of a loving spirit toward them.

 

The Pulpit Commentary, II Chronicles p.418, II Chronicles 34:3, (W. Clarkson)

 

Gold Nugget 335

Losing the Great Advantage

 

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