This
is an election year. Each politician is only doing that which is
politically expedient. Vice-president Nixon recently said jokingly
at a football luncheon that he could not give his preference of
teams in the Rose Bowl Game because this is an election year. Each
office seeker is most careful to say or do nothing that might offend
the voters.
True Christians are also office seekers. We seek not a temporal
crown but a place in God’s kingdom. All too often we say and do
things that offend others. In politics the ambitious are careful
not to hurt the friends of the politically powerful.
Jesus told us ”For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink
in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you,
he shall not lose his reward.” When we visit the sick and the fatherless,
we do it unto the Lord. When the final returns come in on election
night those elected to high o%ce will be those who have pleased
the most voters. Jesus, in giving us a glimpse at the final returns
in the greatest election of all time when he chooses those to rule
the world with him, tells us that the righteous shall ask him saying,
”Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and
gave thee drink? . And the King shall answer and say unto them,
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the
least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
As
we go about our daily tasks, we should look at those around us as
the professional politician would view them. He tries to know the
needs of his constituents and do those things that will please them.
When we come to think about it, the only thing we can do for the
Lord is to be kind to some of his other children. There is nothing
we can do for Him directly, but inasmuch as we do it unto the least
of his brethren, we do it unto him.
We would certainly treat the Lord with love and kindness if he were
here. There would be no trouble finding time to go and visit him
if he were sick or in prison, but we are all too often so busy that
we do not go and visit his brethren when they are sick and in prison.
The politician does many things that may be unpleasant. He kisses
babies and shakes many hands and visits the slums because this makes
others happy and in turn he achieves his goal.
Our
goal cannot be compared to any office to which men may be elected.
To be kings and priests and reign with Christ is beyond comparison
and yet we avoid doing those things that, while perhaps distasteful
to us, bring pleasure to others. There are certainly more pleasant
places to go than the sick room or the cold drab prison but if that
is where Christ’s brethren are, then we should be at their side.
Jesus said, ”I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father
which hath sent me.” This must be our platform also.
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