SUCH is the man of the world. From such the Psalmist of old cried to his God to deliver him. “From men of the world which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes” (Psa. 17:14).
Their desires are fully satisfied, the cup of their portion is filled up to the brim—no cankering care on account of pressing needs is theirs. Yet the Psalmist knew that though their own couches were soft, they would not think of softening other people’s lot; that though their own storehouses and barns were crammed with creature mercies, they would not dream of filling the hands of the hungry.
Now-a-days a man must be decently liberal to save his character, but how many an inward grumble is there whilst the sleek hand doles a golden guinea or two out of the well-filled purse? Yes the Psalmist knew how to describe them in one short verse. And the race has by no means died out yet. But let us narrow the circle, and yet widen it Centuries after the Psalmist wrote, the apostle Paul of the Gentiles was treading thoughtfully the streets of the far-famed Athens. He marked their numberless altars. Their heathen superstition drove them to an absurd zeal in their religion. Fearing lest they had omitted some god who would punish them for their forgetfulness to do him honor, they had reared an altar, inscribing it “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.”
The earnest spirit of the devoted apostle could no longer keep still When he was brought before the high court of Athens―Areopagus―he declared to them the God whom they thus ignorantly worshipped He told them that He gave to all, life and breath and all things. That in Him they lived, and moved, and had their being. That even their own poet had declared, “For we are also His offspring.”
Then the apostle brought the claim of that God before them, with the result that, whilst some mocked and procrastinated, others believed.
Now, friend, you may not have your horses and hounds, your town and country house. You may not be able to boast the position of a man of the world, but you owe to God your being―the air you breathe, the water you drink, the health you enjoy, and ten thousand things more.
Do you ever thank Him? Are you ever grateful? If not, you are supremely selfish and ungrateful.
I know many who are greatly blessed by God, yet who never thank Him for their food, never commend themselves to Him in prayer, never seek a place of worship, even take His holy name in vain, and whose whole life is a course of self-seeking and pleasure. If any such read these lines, take these thoughts to heart, and remember that you cannot be pleasing to God till you honor His well-beloved Son―till you can subject yourself to His rightful claim over you as Lord.
As the apostle spoke of a corning day of judgment, and a present command to repent, so we would press upon you repentance for your life’s history of selfish sins, and to come to Christ as a poor, lost sinner, and receive Him as your Saviour and Lord, and then seek to live a life that has reference to the God who so richly blesses you every moment of your life. “Behold NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the day of salvation.” You cannot approach God save through Christ. Your sin forbids it, but the precious blood of Jesus can cleanse you from all sin―God grant it may. Your ingratitude is rendered ten thousand-fold more ungrateful when you neglect the love of God by not availing yourself of such a Saviour. “How shall we escape If we neglect so great salvation?” A. J. P