Being and Doing – 12 July – Awfulness of our Responsibilities

IT SEEMS to me a great and good lesson to go through these crowded places (speaking of Covent Garden market) to see what life is – the life of the millions, not of the few – and then to think of our aesthetics, as Kingsley said, and our life one long pursuit of enjoyment, and disappointment if we do not get it…   But suppose that cry goes up to the ears of God, and He asks, ‘Whom did you relieve? Whom did you clothe? Whom did you feed with your tens, hundreds, or thousands?   Assuredly, protest against Kingsley who will, he stood on a deep, awful truth, God will yet take account of the selfishness of wealth, and His quarrel has yet to be fought out.

From Life of F. W. Robertson

THE sight of so many whom God has made as good as oneself with such an apparent want of everything, at once makes one ashamed of one’s own treasures, and desirous to claim them and rejoice in whatever one can enter into with them.

F. D. MAURICE

THE Lord’s words made clear beyond doubt that ‘the blessing of power is the blessing of great cares,’ that the sign of authority is the readiness to serve.

Bishop WESTCOTT

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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.