Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-14
DUTY IS TO SERVE
After Individual Salvation There
Comes Need of Work for
the Lord.

" MAN can Tedlly love LIE iSAiOW
III men Alright until he first loves
Christ. 1t Is a great mistake to
devote ones life to the good OF hui
mainly, to the betterment OF the
world, without having first given ones
self to Christ For we must be saved
before we can serve. One is not ready
TO work for others, to do them good.
until he has seen Christ for himself.
But, while the Christian must think
of his individual salvation first, he may
not rest there. Yet that Is as far as
some people go. They come to Christ
and he accepts them, and they rejoice
in the thought that they are Gods
children. But they have no concern
for the souls Of others. They never
carry on their hearts burden for any
life. They feel no responsibility for
the saving of others. Yet Christ makes
1t very plain that his disciples have
great deal to do with the blessing OF
the world. He says they are to be the
salt of the earth. Saltless Christians
are of no use. Christians are to pre-
serve the world and sweeten It, That
is one reason they are left here after
their conversion.
But what is 1t in man that makes
him good salt? A religion without love.
however eloquent, however seemingly
gifted with power. however benevo
lent, is salt that has 80 sadness Some
times men tell US that it Is love for
God that is salt In religion, and then
seek to condone their want of love for
men by claiming to love God. The
apostle John sweeps away such
claim by telling ussthat the proof of
the new spiritual life is love for men.
I'VE know that we have passed out
Of death into life, because we love-
not God, but-"the brethren. He that
ioyeth not abideth in DEATH" II we
love God, we shall love our fellows.
Silent Example Means Much.
There is, indeed, cleansing, purify
ing influence in the mere silent exam
pie of good men in q community.
Though they take no part in the
worlds controversies and struggles, II
they live day after day pure lives. gen.
tie lives, simple lives, lives without
stain or reproach, they are like salt In
their preservative, sweetening infiu-
ence In the community. Salt works
silently, without advertisement, with
out proclaiming its work. There Is a
tremendous power In simple goodness,
though it be not heard In the streets.
Christians can be the salt of the
earth just by being good and true and
loving. Love is salt. Humility Is
salt. Goodness is salt. The world does
not know what it owes to it's quiet,
nameless saints.
But the passive virtues are not all.
There is positive force in salt 1t is
pungent and biting. and strong. Chris.
tan men should be positive, earnest
and outspoken. in medieval days the
type of saintliness that was thought to
be the most heavenly and Christlike
was that which fed away from men
and hid in caves and monasteries, say
ing its prayers, fasting and wearing
hair shirts. Not thus did the Master
teach men to live holy lives. II send
you forth as lambs among wolves" he
said to his saints. He did not ask that
they might be taken out of the world,
only that they be kept from its evil
while they sought to cure the evil and
make all life better.
Are We All Doing Our Part?
is the part of earth we live in grow
ing purer, sweeter. heavenlier, day by
day, because of our living in 1t? Are
we touching the evils about us with
our positive good and driving them
away? How many of us sought with
love and prayer and earnest effort this
past week to save one man, or to bring
one child under the influence of the
gospel? What did we do to heal the
strifes of men and to make peace, to
soften the bitterness of quarrels and
to bring together those who are at en-
nifty? What did we do to help the
discouraged to cheer the depressed. to
lift up hands that hang down? What
effort did we make to put stop to
crime and vice in our community and
MARE 1t safer place for our children
to grow up iIs?
Are we making sort Of house coat
and slippers of our religion, something
to give us ease and comfort, to soothe
our conscience and make US think
well of ourselves? What is it costing
us to be Christians, to follow our Mas
ter? What sacrifice are we making for
him? What kind of service are we CIV
ing to him? What of our gentle ease
are we giving up. what things are we
doing without. that we may lay the
more on the Lords Sunday
School Times.