Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
November 19
Morning
"Avoid
foolish questions."—Titus 3:9.
Our days are few, and are
far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters
which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a world
of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical
importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points
and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said,
neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes
knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field. Questions
upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God
alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of
observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise
men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions,
but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle's precept (Titus
3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much
occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy,
contentious, and needless strivings.
There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must
not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my conversation adorn
the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the
coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master?
What more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our
attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our critical abilities to a
service so much more profitable. Let us be peace-makers,
and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and
example, to "avoid foolish questions."
Evening
"O that
I knew where I might find Him!"—Job 23:3.
In Job's uttermost
extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of
God is once more to see his Father's face. His first prayer is not "O that
I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my
body!" nor even "O that I might see my children restored from the
jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the
spoiler!" but the first and uppermost cry is, "O that I knew where I
might find HIM, who is my God! that I might come even
to His seat!" God's children run home when the storm comes on. It is the
heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath
the wings of Jehovah. "He that hath made his refuge God," might serve
as the title of a true believer. A hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents
the infliction, and, like a slave, would run from the Master who has scourged
him; but not so the true heir of heaven, he kisses the hand
which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in the bosom of the God
who frowned upon him. Job's desire to commune with God was intensified by the
failure of all other sources of consolation. The patriarch turned away from his
sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller turns
from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed to the well. He
bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, "O that I knew where I might
find my God!" Nothing teaches us so much the preciousness of the Creator,
as when we learn the emptiness of all besides. Turning away with bitter scorn
from earth's hives, where we find no honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice
in Him whose faithful word is sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. In every
trouble we should first seek to realize God's presence with us. Only let us
enjoy His smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a willing heart for His
dear sake.