“Now, my men, I want a word with you on the subject of saying 'No' at the right time;" so said a servant of Christ to a group of soldiers, who, had gathered round him in the barracks at Portsmouth.
I was passing out at the time, and heard no more; but that one sentence has come back to me over and over again, and I have often wondered what fruit it bore.
Now, my dear young friends, I would like a little talk with you on the same subject; and may the Lord by His grace, give you each to realize how important it is to make a stand and say "No"' at the right time.
Before going to God's word for the brave "Nos" that have been spoken by His people, I will tell you of a young officer in a very lively regiment, who would not be led into card-playing, and who had constantly to use the little word "No."'
On first joining the regiment, he found, after mess, that the card-tables were put out as usual, and he was asked to play, but he quietly declined. Now, all young people like to be popular, and hate to be thought peculiar, so it must have been a great struggle for the youngest man present to act in a way that showed he disapproved of gambling, when his seniors were playing.
He was asked over and over again, but each time he firmly declined. And though he had to bear a great deal of chaff about his stinginess and so on, he maintained his ground. By-and-by the worry ceased, and he was one of the few who escaped being deeply in debt, while at the same time he gained the respect of his brother officers. That "No" spoken at the right time saved him, and his loved ones at home, many a heartache.
Let us now look at a Bible "No." You remember when Abraham returned from the battle with the five kings, that the king of Sodom offered Abraham all the spoil taken in the fight; but he firmly declined, because he thought it would be dishonoring to God to take a present from an idolater, who might have boasted that he had made Abraham rich.
Humanly speaking Abraham was giving up a great deal that was gratifying to the flesh; but mark the words which open the next chapter, and say if that brave refusal (or "No") to the king of; Sodom was not amply repaid, by the God of heaven and earth saying to His faithful servant, "I am thy shield and exceeding great reward." Surely they cannot be compared in point of value.
The second brave "No" I will refer to was spoken by Abraham's great grandson, Joseph. You will recall when he was sold as a slave to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard, how he was subjected to the fiercest temptation by his master's wife, and how bravely he answered, "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”
A dungeon was the penalty of this pronounced "No;" but He Who neither slumbers nor sleeps was looking upon Joseph, and soon he was raised to be Prime Minister, or second to the throne. "Them that honor me I will honor.”
I must give you one more example, and refer you to Daniel, You remember they wanted him and his fellow captives to eat the same food as the Babylonians; but the Hebrews were under careful restrictions not to touch anything unclean: Daniel refused firmly and respectfully. Yet the result was that he was allowed the privilege, and moreover, won the love of the eunuch who had charge of the captives.
This act was the first to bring him into notice. Then God gave him wisdom about the king's dream. After this came the sternest test of his faith; all prayer was forbidden, save to the king.
Again the brave bold spirit by its action said "No," and now the den of lions was to be the penalty; but God can shut lions' mouths, quench fire, and open prison-doors for those who fear and faithfully serve Him. So after the lions' den comes more advancement.
But God honored him as well as man, for the angel said to him, "O Daniel, a man greatly beloved." Was this not enough to make up for all he had gone through? There is no such salutation in the Bible to any other man.
In each case, being true to God and a saying "No" at the right time brought great blessing; and as all scripture is given for our example and instruction, God will be with you as with His people of old, when you stand firmly for Him.
We have no fear now of lions, nor of dungeons, but Satan's temptations are around us. "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life" are in the world, and only cleaving to the Lord can keep us, and strengthen us to say "No" at the right time.
Some of my readers may exclaim, "I cannot find that 'No' was said in any of the instances given." True; but think over it and see if the essence of "No" was not really there. When we decline anything, it is not with a blunt "No;" so Abraham, as a child of God, was courteous to a heathen king, and Daniel to the courtiers of Babylon; but in each case the refusal was firm and decided, and God owned and blessed it.