“They will think” is still another self-made barrier. The fear of being misunderstood or having remarks made about them is some people’s greatest hindrance. “They will think I want to push myself ahead”; “They will think some one else ought to do it”; they will think this, or they will think that, and so fear of what people will say closes the mouth and ties the hands, rendering life fruitless. The thing that ought to concern us is, “What will God think if we do not do it?” It is to him we must give account. It is his approval we should seek. If he approves, what others think is a small matter. Are we not willing to be misunderstood for Jesus’ sake?
Let us cease to build these barriers before us. Let us throw down what we have built. Let us decide we will not be held back from duty by our fears. Let us go forward in the strength that God will give. Let us trust more in God, and be confident that he will not fail us. Have you not read that the “man of God” was to be thoroughly furnished unto every good work? If you would pay more heed to getting your furnishings than you do to your fears, you might become far more fruitful. Thus, you would be more happy here and reap a greater reward hereafter.
TALK FORTY-FIVE. HOW TO WORK GOD’S JOY-MACHINE
It was a bright, sunny morning as Brother Littlejoy walked down the street toward the railway-station. But somehow the brightness of the morning was not reflected in Brother Littlejoy’s face. He seemed gloomy; his gaze rested upon the ground. As he entered the waiting-room, he saw a man with a smiling countenance, and he said to himself, “Why, there is Brother Joyful.”
Brother Joyful, seeing Brother Littlejoy, hastened to him and shook hands with him warmly and said: “Good morning, Brother Littlejoy. What a fine morning this is! It seems that all nature is rejoicing in the spring sunshine. But, Brother Littlejoy, why do you look so gloomy this morning when everything else seems so bright?”
“Oh,” said Brother Littlejoy, “I have so many troubles and worries and perplexities, so many trials and difficulties, that it seems I have little joy in my life. I never can understand how you are always so joyful. You always have a smile for everybody and never seem to have any of the worries and troubles that other people have. You seem to be, as Paul said, ‘always rejoicing.’ How I wish I were as you are! It certainly must be a happy life.”