A MAN SHOULD NOT BE UNDULY SOLICITOUS ABOUT HIS
AFFAIRS
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, always commit your cause to Me. I will dispose of it
rightly in good time. Await My ordering of it and it will be to your
advantage.
THE DISCIPLE
Lord, I willingly commit all things to You, for my anxiety can
profit me little. But I would that I were not so concerned about the
future, and instead offered myself without hesitation to Your good
pleasure.
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
My child, it often happens that a man seeks ardently after
something he desires and then when he has attained it he begins to
think that it is not at all desirable; for affections do not remain
fixed on the same thing, but rather flit from one to another. It is no
very small matter, therefore, for a man to forsake himself even in
things that are very small.
A man's true progress consists in denying himself, and the man
who has denied himself is truly free and secure. The old enemy,
however, setting himself against all good, never ceases to tempt them,
but day and night plots dangerous snares to cast the unwary into the
net of deceit. "Watch ye and pray," says the Lord, "that ye enter not
into temptation."[37] |
That man must not be immersed in business
"My Son, always commit thy cause to Me; I will
dispose it aright in due time. Wait for My arrangement of it, and
then thou shalt find it for thy profit."
2. O Lord, right freely I commit all things to
Thee; for my planning can profit but little. Oh that I did not dwell
so much on future events, but could offer myself altogether to Thy
pleasures without delay.
3. "My Son, a man often striveth vehemently after
somewhat which he desireth; but when he hath obtained it he beginneth
to be of another mind, because his affections towards it are not
lasting, but rather rush on from one thing to another. Therefore it is
not really a small thing, when in small things we resist self."
4. The true progress of man lieth in self-denial,
and a man who denieth himself is free and safe. But the old enemy,
opposer of all good things, ceaseth not from temptation; but day and
night setteth his wicked snares, if haply he may be able to entrap the
unwary. Watch and pray, saith the Lord, lest ye enter into
temptation.(1) |