Being and Doing – 25 January – Unity of Life

As regard the two lives, I do not think you would be the better for withdrawing from all society; another set of temptations would arise, and perhaps what are quite as dangerous though more subtle.  But what we all have to do in our vocation, whatever it is, is to be quite sure we stand on God’s side, and doing this will always cause us to use God’s gifts without abusing them and as for His Glory.  How rightly to mix in this world’s life, even in a moderate degree, needs much inward self-discipline and self-restraint, much watchfulness to be true to God, and a fixed rule as to what one will or will not do, all this needs a very true conscientious dealing with oneself…

I am far from thinking it is possible to serve God and the world, but living in the world is not serving the world.

H. MONSELL.

IT has been too much the fashion to divide the service of God from the work of the world, to call on men to leave all to follow Christ, as if Christ meant, when He called Peter and Matthew away for a special missionary work, that no one should remain to do the needful works of life, and that no one who did not leave these works could follow Him.  By this mistaking of a special call of special men to a particular work, for a universal law for all men, the fatal division was made of sacred and profane work.  The true lesson of His teaching was that all work was given to man by God, and was to be done divinely with love, and faith and joy.

STOPFORD BROOKE.

oooOOOooo

These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.