Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

needful,"up"evil."sort."men."much,"LESSON HELPS FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 15, 1954THE FIELD IS THE WORLD,TH SD (S THE WORD oe GODVOLUME LIII WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1954 NUMBER 4"But Mine Own Vineyard"byEdwin Raymond AndersonNothing can possibly take the first place of intimate communion and fellowship with the Lord Jeand realmsus Christ. Nothing in the entire sweepof Christian life and service can rightly fill it. This issurely, "the one thing and he who learnedthis well, has chosen the better part. And the blessedLord will surely "make for all that had beenshunted aside to second-place in order that whole attention be given to this matter.Without doubt this is one of the most "disbelieved beliefs" in the catalogue of Christian truth!It is believed in as a fact, of course, for there is muchof "chapter-and-verse" which indicates, with all ofthe impact of the Holy Spirit, the prime importanceof it. Theologically we render Him the due of the firstplace. But how hardly is it believed upon as a practical act, coloring and shaping the whole course ofgo,"Christian conduct ! We are everlastingly "on theand all too often with that kind of "go" which getslittle or nowhere, spiritually. Many a worker for theLord has learned the truth of that. With all his laborings,there has come upon him, time after time, overand over, that disturbing, disquieting inner sense ofsomething being missed, or lost. He comes to realizethat the Word of the living God has become more ofa text-book than a treasure, and the work has toppledfrom the holy to the hum-drum. While they gothrough the motions, they miss the marvel.Many a saint of God has cried out the warningagainst the snare and subtle danger of this. It is significant to note that those Who accomplish the mosthy way of work for the Lord, say little about that,and far more concerning the Lord of that work.Things are in spiritual balance and proper proportion.Dr. Hudson Taylor for example, terms this one of thepre-eminent dangers of the present time and adds,"the intense activity of our lives may lead to zeal inservice to the neglect of personal communion; butsuch neglect will not only lessen the value of the service but tend to incapacitate us for the highest serviceto God." And on the other hand, and positive side,consider this word from Andrew Bonar regarding theministry of that holy man of God, Robert MurrayMcCheyne "he dwelt at the mercy seat as though itwere his home and spent nights and days in ceaselessbreathings after holiness and the souls of Ofcourse, we moderns might be dangerously inclined tolook upon such with nigh impatience; there is somuch work to be done ; we must work for the night iscoming when no man can work, and the Word doesindicate our need of "redeeming the time because thedays are Yet the Word also speaks of the needof worship, without which, in the most spiritualsense of the term, there can be no true, Christ-honoring, Spirit-directed work. We need to remember thatour works shall be judged not by "how butrather, "of what God is better glorified byquality rather than by quantity, for that is His measure as to value.Recall that plaint in the Song of Solomon in thisconnection; "they made me the keeper of the vineyard ; but mine own vineyard have I not kept" (Songof Sol. 1 :6). It is good to recognize the tragedy whilethere is yet time to make the transfer lest the remaining testimony be further tarnished. The Lordwho commissioned us to work in the field, also commissioned us to fellowship with Himself. There is a(Continued on page 58)