| The Best Things in Life |
Chapter 3 |
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We do not know what important interest may depend some critical hour, years from now, on the piece of work we are doing today, on the honesty and truth we shall build into our character tomorrow. Let us do all we do so well that the Master and the world shall speak of us as the approved.
The lesson applies also to the cultivation of our Christian life and character. Perhaps we do not pay enough heed to this matter. We confess Christ, and take our place among his people, and think nothing more is required of us. But that is only the beginning. Ten or twelve years ago a man gave himself to Christ. He was sincere from the first, but was only a diamond in the rough. He had been brought up in unrefined associations and companionships. He had been a profane man, a man of quick temper, resentful, of loud and uncouth speech, lacking all gentleness and tenderness. But this man took Christ into his heart and life, with most loving welcome, and he has been marvelously transformed by the divine indwelling. His whole nature has been changed. His manners have been softened into real gracefulness. His temper has been sweetened. The very tones of his speech have become quiet and kindly, almost musical. He has had but little time in his busy days and nights for reading and study, and yet he seems now like a man who has received a liberal education since his conversion.
This example illustrates the value of spiritual culture in a Christian. The word “grace” means beauty of form, manner, and movement, something pleasing, agreeable, and winsome. To grow in grace is to grow in spiritual beauty. The finer things in Christian character should be cultivated. Some one chided a great artist with giving too much time to trifles in the finishing of his statues. He would spend hours on a small feature. He replied, “Little things make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.” We cannot spend too much time or thought on the culture of what may seem the smaller elements of Christian character.
In the fourth century B.C. there was a great artist named also Apelles. His motto is said to have been, Nulla dies sine linea, “No day without a line.” Every day he must make at least a little progress in his art, become a little better painter, do a little more beautiful work. Is not this a good motto for us who are Christians? We never should be content with anything less than perfection, and in striving to reach perfection we should add a line every day. We should never allow a day to pass in which we do not become a somewhat more beautiful Christian.
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