PERHAPS, after all, there are no such hindrances to the Christian’s real growth as cares and lusts, or desires. When the heart is oppressed with cares, it soon becomes almost unable to think of anything else, and readily magnifies their importance, until the troubled spirit is unable to live and walk in the atmosphere of its own blessing. The song of joy and thanksgiving soon also becomes exchanged for sorrowful if not discontented feelings. Instead of being above the care, and rejoicing in that blessed One, whom having not seen we love, with joy unspeakable and full of glory, the heart is drawn under the weight of the care, and unable to rise above the region of sight and sense—itself, its burden, its circumstances. Thus the exercise of the heart by the influence of the word of God is choked; the soul, too, becomes paralyzed for the walk of faith: how therefore can there be fruit-bearing?
To carry our own cares is direct disobedience to the will of God, who enjoins us to cast all our care upon Him, because He careth for us. (1 Peter 5:77Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7).) To carry our own tares, therefore, must arise from self-confidence, and also from not believing the blessed fact that He careth for us. A soul truly self-emptied, and walking humbly before God, finds its own thorough insufficiency to deal with the cares of this life, and therefore most thankfully accepts God’s loving injunction to roll each burden upon Him, who is both able and willing to bear it. The attempt, therefore, of carrying our own burden is positive disobedience, and the fruit of unbelief. The world get on with their difficulties by casting them away, and drowning their effects in the pleasures of sin, in some shape or other; but faith truly estimates the care, or difficulty, or sorrow, or whatever it may be, and in child-like simplicity, and with filial reverence, casts it upon God according to His own word, and finds sustainment in thus dealing with Him who says, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” It is impossible, therefore, that a Christian can be prospering spiritually who is thus preferring to carry his own cares, and refusing to cast all his care upon his heavenly Father, in the happy confidence that He cares for him.
The other point, “lusts of other things,” are also thorns, and choke the word, which doubtless accounts for much of the present unfruitfulness. Few things are more important for those who are in Christ than watching their own desires—keeping the heart with all diligence. The depths of divine mercy, seen in the person of Christ crucified, risen, and glorified, teach us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to desire, above and beyond every other consideration, the glory of God. If, therefore, our hearts are pining after worldly things, or any things of earth, instead of being content with such things as we have; or striving after worldly position, instead of learning in whatsoever state we are therewith to be content, earthly things become the object of our hearts instead of Christ. Again, if instead of being practically and in heart and soul associated with Christ in humiliation and rejection, whom the world cast out and still refuses, our hearts are desiring more of its wealth, its pleasures, its rank, or its gratifications, how can the Spirit that dwelleth in us be otherwise than grieved? and how can we be bearing fruit to the glory of God? Was Christ like this?
It is well, then, to search our hearts often as to the desires we are encouraging, and whether we are trying to be our own burden-bearers, instead of casting them all upon God. The heart will not find leisure to search the Scriptures, or to addict itself to much secret prayer, if such thorns are cultivated by us. They are indeed thorns, the natural product of a corrupt nature, the offspring of unbelief, and the results (however unconscious we may be of it) of pride and self-confidence.
Oh, for our hearts to be kept so dwelling in the love of God, that we may be able to live above circumstances, whether painful or pleasant, and rejoice in the Lord always. Should it not be enough for us that all things work together for our good, and that it is God Himself who invites us to cast all our care upon Him. because He careth for us? When the heart is habitually occupied with Christ, finding Him not only all our salvation but all our desire, then it is that we are strengthened both to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to follow Him through honor and dishonor through evil report and good report.
“SHALL I not trust my God,
Who does so well love me,
Who as a Father cares so tenderly?
Shall I not lay the load,
Which would my weakness break,
On His strong hand, who never does forsake?
“He doth know all my grief,
And all my heart’s desire;
He’ll stand by me till death through flood and are!
And He can send relief,
My Father’s love so free,
Till the new morning shall remain to me.
“Who doth the birds supply;
Who grass, and trees, and flowers
Doth beautifully clothe, through careless hours;
Who hears as, ere we cry,
Can He my need forget?
Nay, though He slay me, I will trust Him yet.
“When I His yoke do bear,
And seek my chiefest joy
But in His righteousness and sweet employ,
He makes my soul His care; Early and late doth bless,
And crowneth work and purpose with success.
“O blessed be His name!
My Father cares for me!
I can no longer unbelieving be.
All praise to Him proclaim;
I know He is my Friend;
I know the Lord will love me to the end.”