Oh what beautiful words of truth these are, spoken by Charles Hadley Spurgeon in a sermon "Rest for the Laboring" in 1876. So beautiful...and so different from our modern way of thinking in which ambition is honored and self esteem is prized and the praise of men is intoxicating.
Yes, quite different is the heart of a disciple of Jesus.
Perhaps, young man, you are laboring after fame. You despise gold, but you pant to obtain a great name. Alas, ambition’s ways are very weary, and he who climbs the loftiest peak of honor finds that it is a slippery place, where rest is quite unknown. Young brother, take a friend’s advice and care no longer for man’s praise, for it is mere wind. If thou wouldst rise to a great name, become a Christian, for the name of Christ is the name above every name, and it is bliss to be hidden beneath it, and overshadowed by it. Christ will not make thee great among men, but he will make thee so little in thine own esteem that the lowest place at his table will more than satisfy thee. He will give thee rest from that delirious dream of ambition, and yet fire thee with a higher ambition than ever.
Cheryl, these words speak so powerfully to my heart. It's so hard not to labor after the praise of men, even when we know that is not a worthy goal. There is something within us that longs for that approval, and it often takes a long time for us to see that that is "mere wind". How full of rest it would be to fully yield to the ambition of being so little in our own esteem that we would be more than satisfied just to have the lowest place at His table. Don't those words almost bring you to tears? The praise of men could never, ever compare to being hidden and overshadowed by our precious Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThank you for these words.
ReplyDeleteI think that I have always wanted the acceptance and praise of others, not for pride but to prove my worth.
All my worth is really hidden in Jesus - it is because of Him that I have any worth, period.
Much to ponder, sister!
Thank you!