VICTORIAN VILLAGE Life Style
Let us live on our guard against this great evil — if we make any profession of serving Christ. The harm that it has done to the Church of Christ is far beyond calculation. Let us learn to take pleasure in the prosperity of others — and to be content with the lowest place for ourselves. The rule given to the Philippians should be often before our eyes, "In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves." The example of John the Baptist is a bright instance of the spirit at which we should aim. He said of our Lord, "He must increase — but I must decrease." (Philippians 2:3; John 3:30.) LET US OBSERVE, SECONDLY, IN THIS PASSAGE, THE STRIKING ACCOUNT WHICH OUR LORD GIVES OF TRUE CHRISTIAN GREATNESS. He tells His disciples that the worldly standard of greatness was the exercise of 'lordship and authority'. "But you," He says, "are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you — should be like the youngest; and the one who rules — like the one who serves." And then He enforces this principle by the mighty fact of His own example, "I am among you as He who serves." Usefulness in the world and Church — a humble readiness to do anything, and put our hands to any good work — a cheerful willingness to fill any post, however lowly, and discharge any office, however unpleasant, if we can only promote happiness and holiness on earth — these are the true tests of Christian greatness. The hero in Christ's army is not the man who has rank, title, dignity, chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. It is the man who
does not seek his own things, but the things of others. It is the man who is kind to all, tender to all, thoughtful for all — with a hand to help all, and a heart to feel for all. It is the man who spends and is spent — to make the vice and misery of the world less, to bind up the broken- hearted, to befriend the friendless, to cheer the sorrowful, to enlighten the ignorant, and to raise the poor. This is the truly great man in the eyes of God! The world may ridicule his labors and deny the sincerity of his motives. But while the world is sneering, God is pleased. This is the man who is walking most closely in the steps of Christ. Let us follow after greatness of this sort, if we desire to prove ourselves to be Christ's servants. Let us not be content with clear head- knowledge, and loud lip-profession, and keen insight into controversy, and fervent zeal for the interests of our own party. Let us see that we minister to the needs of a sin-burdened world — and do good to bodies and souls. Blessed be God — the greatness which Christ commended is within the reach of all! Not all have the ability to learn, money, or both. But all can minister to the happiness of those around them, by passive or by active graces. All can be useful — and all can be kind. There is a grand reality in constant kindness. It makes the men of the world think. LET US OBSERVE, THIRDLY, IN THIS PASSAGE, OUR LORD'S GRACIOUS COMMENDATION OF HIS DISCIPLES. He said to them, "You have remained true to me in my time of trial." There is something very striking in these words of
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