South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-17
PRACTICAL LOVE.

4. Christian Love is an Action. 1t
as well as an action, but when the
application of our love is TO strang
erS, we must not wait for emotion be-
fore we do TO its object that which
love demands. We may not always
be able TO generate in ourselves the
feeling of love, but we are always able
TO act in the way which that senti-
ment prompts. The story of the good
Samaritan is a practical exemplifica-
ton of true Christian love. When he
saw the poor man i'm his pitiable con-
dition he may or may not have been
conscious that he loved him. but he
did experience a desire to help u man
in such sore need, and took such steps
as he was able to put that desire into
prompt action. Jesus went about do
ing good, and this demonstrated his
love for the people as nothing he
might say could do We therefore
obey the text when we help cur neigh
Dor as he may require, and our neigh
Dor is any person who may be in need.
No person whose heart is influenced
by love need TO be told to render help
TO a neighbor, because his desire
prompts him to do SO. Love delights
To do good even at the expense of self
sacrifice.
,. Christian Love Renders Material
Assistance. There was a time in the
history of the Christian church when
the material needs of the community
were not very much thought about,
the sore aim being TO minister to the
| spiritual needs 1t is true that the
eternal needs of the people are of as
much more Importance than their
temporal needs, as eternity exceeds
| time in duration but TO neglect to feed
/ the hungry, or clothe the naked, or
minister TO any other pressing mate
| rial need is wholly inconsistent in a
follower of Jesus. and in the last
analysis means failing to do the more
/ important work. The time has come.
J however, when the Christian church
| is FULLY alive to the truth that her
/ duty is TO a man as such, taking in all
| his needs for time and eternity. She
| is now looking after earthly condi-
| tons. without abatinE her interests in
! spiritual things. Proper sanitary con-
| ditions in the homes of the people,
! hospitals for the sick, asylums for the
| defective. popular education, and a
whole host of similar important mat
| ters, are being attended 10 as never
| before in the history of the world.
| The betterment in the social and eco
nOmic condition of the masses is the
| direct outcome of the Masters golden
rule. Thou shalt love thy neighbor
]
| and it is the SORT IF love which must
be operative in the heart and life of
! every Christian.
>. Christian Love Renders Mental
and Moral Help. There is a tendency
/ when we take up a certain line OF
/ benevOlence. or helpfulness to our
] fellows. 10 become specialists in that
/ department. and sometimes to be mar
| row in our outlook. to the exclusion
! OF other departments Of work. But
! the golden rule enunciated in our text
/ covers the all-round needs OF man
| kind. 1t is just as important 10 in
| sist upon the advancement Of the peo-
| pie, and TO provide every child with
| at least a rudimentary education as
| il i TO insist that every child shall
| be properly fed and clothed and
! housed. Parents who do not plan for
! the education of their children or
| permit them To grow up in ignorance,
/ are doing them an irreparable injury
which cannot be atOned for in after
| life. The more education a child has
the better. and especially II his ad
yanced education is along the line OF
the calling or the work In life which
he is 10 follow. Then il is the duty
of all who love their neighbor 10 en-
courage him in ever helpful way. A.
great deal OF good can be done by the
man who carries a genial smile and
who recognizes his friends with cheer
full greetings. Most Of Us can be q
help and an inspiration 10 our friends