Character and Conduct – 18 December – The Limit of Luxury

The expenditure of money is no easy matter.   It is wrong to let the poor want.   It is wrong to starve the nature which asks for other things than food.   There is only one principle of guidance.   Whatever is done must be done in thought for others, and not in thought for ourselves.   Money on luxuries which end in ourselves is wrongly spent;  money spent on luxuries – on scents, sounds and sights – which directly or indirectly pass on to others is rightly spent.   The limit of luxury is the power of sharing.

The Service of God, Canon BARNETT

ALL that depends on individual choice – our recreations, our expenditure – can be brought to one test, which we are generally able to apply:  Does this or that help me to do my work more effectively?   To us most literally, even if the confession overwhelms us with shame, whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Bishop WESTCOTT

IMITATE a little child…   While you gather and use this world’s goods with one hand, always let your other be fast in your Heavenly Father’s hand, and look round from time to time, and make sure that He is satisfied.

S. FRANCIS de SALES

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

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1905 as a follow up to her volume of Daily Readings for members of the Being and Doing Guild who asked for an additional volume

In her preface Whishaw writes:

‘This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it.’

It is my hope in publishing them here is that readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.