From Charles Hadden Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, Under: "August 21".
We are here taught the great lesson, that to
get, we must give; that to accumulate, we must scatter; that to make ourselves
happy, we must make others happy; and that in order to become spiritually
vigorous, we must seek the spiritual good of others. In watering others, we are
ourselves watered. How? Our efforts to be useful, bring out our powers for
usefulness. We have latent talents and dormant faculties, which are brought
to light by exercise. Our strength for labour is hidden even from ourselves,
until we venture forth to fight the Lord's battles, or to climb the mountains
of difficulty. We do not know what tender sympathies we possess until we try to
dry the widow's tears, and soothe the orphan's grief. We often find in
attempting to teach others, that we gain instruction for ourselves. Oh,
what gracious lessons some of us have learned at sick beds! We went to teach
the Scriptures, we came away blushing that we knew so little of them. In our
converse with poor saints, we are taught the way of God more perfectly for
ourselves and get a deeper insight into divine truth. So that watering others makes
us humble. We discover how much grace there is where we had not looked for
it; and how much the poor saint may outstrip us in knowledge. Our own comfort
is also increased by our working for others. We endeavour to cheer them,
and the consolation gladdens our own heart. Like the two men in the snow; one
chafed the other's limbs to keep him from dying, and in so doing kept his own
blood in circulation, and saved his own life. The poor widow of Sarepta gave
from her scanty store a supply for the prophet's wants, and from that day she
never again knew what want was. Give then, and it shall be given unto you, good
measure, pressed down, and running over.
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