Charles E. Orr, Original Publishing Unknown
[Original Page Numbers]
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."
Luke 6:31. This is a good rule for every day living. It is known throughout
the Christian world as "The Golden Rule." It has great depths. It contains
more no doubt than any of us comprehend. But let us study it for a moment.
We might divide it into two rules: First, Do good to all; second, Do harm
to none. We would that all men should do us good, and we would that none
should do us harm. But if we would see the greater depths of this rule we
must look beyond the physical man. To do good to all and harm to none in
a bodily or physical sense is indeed good, but to do good to all and harm
to none in a moral sense, is much better. We should do all we can to help
others in a moral sense. Is not this what we would have all men do to us?
We should do harm to none in a moral sense, because we would have none do
us harm. This necessitates living a very holy life.
There are two ways in which we may do good to men morally: first,
by strengthening the good that is in them; second, by suppressing and helping
them to overcome any evil or fault that may be in them. Likewise there are
two ways in which we may do harm to men morally: first, by strengthening
and encouraging the evil and fault that may be in them; second, by suppressing
and destroying the good that may be in them.
We are all creatures of influence. We are being influenced, and we
are having an influence. There never was a human life but that had some influence
over some other human life. We influence more by example than by words. If
we say one thing and act another, we shall find our actions speaking more
loudly than our words. If we love God with all our hearts, that love will
influence another to love him. Never was love lost. The love you have, O
child of God, will find its way into some other life sometime, somewhere.
The more of God's love that is beaming out of our heart and life, the greater
will be our influence upon others. Then may we love him with all the heart.
We should be filled with the Spirit. If we are spiritual, we cause those
we converse with to desire to be more spiritual. We should be full of faith
that our strong faith may help others to [93]
have more faith. We should like for others to be such an example to us; and
as we would that men should do to us let us do to them.
It is a very great source of regret, indeed, to be so destitute of
love, faith, and spirituality that we discourage and dampen the ardor of
those into whose presence we may be for a time. Be your very best for God
every day of your life and wield a holy influence over the hearts of men.
The very greatest benefit we can be to man and the highest homage we can
pay to God is to be filled with all the fullness of God.
To spend well this one brief life of ours, we must be active in doing
good. This we have already learned. But not only should we be active in doing
good, but we should do the good act when the act will be most helpful. Do
the good deed when the good deed needs to be done. The kind word may be worth
much and be greatly helpful to the fainting soul today, but may be too late
tomorrow. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men."
Will you stop a moment and think overt these words? Let no opportunity of
doing good go by you unimproved. To neglect the present opportunity of doing
good and then never be able to do it is a sad thing.
"Of all sad words of tongue or pen
Why do you keep all the kind thoughts and kind words for a man until
he is dead? They do him no good then. It is while he is living that he needs
them. He has burdens heavy to be borne; troubles gather thick over his head;
he is neglected and even misrepresented. You can help him with a smile or
a few kind words; but, no, you pass him by. Now he is brought to the grave.
As the cold clods fall upon his plain coffin, you say, "Well, he was a good
man, after all." Why did you not tell him that when he was living? It would
have buoyed up his spirit then; it would have made him feel that life was
not all in vain and that vet he might do a little good. But now he hears
not your words. They return to you or float out into empty space a mere sound.
The ear that was once eager for them [94] and
the heart that was aching for them is now cold in death. Your kind, cheering
words are too late to give him encouragement; your flowers are too late to
be appreciated. Once they would have brightened his life, but now his life
is over. Once you could have chased away some clouds that were darkening
his life, but you did not, and that day has gone into eternity as a day of
darkness. You might have brightened it. This morning some kind hand placed
a vase of beautiful flowers upon my desk. As I write, their fragrance reaches
me and brings me tidings of some one's kind remembrance.
It costs but little to speak kind words, but oh! ofttimes they are
worth so much! I know of nothing that costs so little to give that is so
valuable to receive. But why keep all the flowers, the kind words, the tender
feelings and thoughts, and the sympathetic tears until the one to whom they
should be given passes away, and then come and let them fall so gently upon
the casket? Do you know of one who is weary? do you know of one who is being
misrepresented? do you know of one who is being trodden by others, with scarcely
any one to speak a word of comfort? Now, what would Jesus do ? Look at poor
Lazarus—turned away by the rich, neglected and rejected: watched over
by angels ready to gather him to paradise when he passes beyond the need
of aid from men. Why not be an angel and make a day of paradise for him here?
Let us do some angel work while here in life. The angels are ministering
spirits. They whisper, "Be of good cheer," "Peace on earth." They come to
gladden hearts; they come to close the lions' mouths; they come to open the
prison doors and break the iron bands. Oh, let us do some angel work!
Hast thou any flowers for me ?
While in life's eventful day
Hast thou kind words to impart,
Kind words are but empty breath
Hast thou sunlit smiles to give,
Smiles, what'er their power to save,
Prayer can stay the trembling knee:
When my soul transcends the air,
"If I should die tonight,
The Purpose of the Church of God is to spread and
5334 Whitney Ave. Carmichael, CA. 95608
How to Live a Holy Life
THE GOLDEN RULE OF LIFE
The saddest are these: 'It might have been."'
Wilt thou kindly let them be
Given ere death be dews my brow ?
Wait not, give them to me now.
Tired, and weary grows the way,
When in dark and lonely hour,
Give me then the cheering flow'r.[95]
Words that lift the fainting heart?
Speak ere Death's hand on me lay;
Speak those kind words now—today.
To the heart that's still in death;
When life's load is hard to bear
Let me then the kind words hear.
Smiles that make us want to live ?
Ere I cross death's sullen stream,
On me let those bright smiles beam.
Can not penetrate the grave.
Ere I reach life's ending mile,
Give to me the sunlit smile.
If thou hast but one for me,
Let it offered be today,
Ere the life light fades away.
I no more shall need thy prayer:
Let now, today, thy soul travail;
'Tis only now thy prayers avail.
My friends would call to mind with loving thought
Some kindly deed the icy hand had wrought,
Some gentle word the frozen lips had said,
Errands on which the willing feet had sped;
The memory of my selfishness and pride,
My hasty words, would all be put aside,
And so I should be loved and mourned tonight."
[96]
establish the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Justification, Sanctification, Unity
Carmichael, California USA
Pastor, Church Telephone (916) 482-7128