| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 6 |
Page 2 |
“Right here is where professionalism works so much of its mischief. I have heard men say that they would not see people, say, at certain hours of the day, because these were hours they had set apart for something else in a professional way. I have heard of ministers refusing to go out on stormy nights because they thought they had done their work for that day. This kind of spirit will never succeed in the highest way. It may bring a man up to a noted professional standing but it will never make him a real helper of his fellow men. The man that wants you is the man that you want to see. When you love men you must love every man and any man. I mean whoever needs you, you must seek to help, whatever the cost may be, in whatever little way you may be able to serve him.
“It seems that your secret of success just now will be, not in developing the professional ideals, not in following any rules which you have learned in the seminary, but in caring for people with such intensity that you will be ready to make any self sacrifice to do them good.
“If you would win men for Christ you must win them first to yourself. That is, you must make them believe in you, love you. Mary and her lamb have a lesson for us. ‘“What make the lamb love Mary so?” the eager children cry. “Oh, Mary love the lamb, you know,” the teacher did reply.’ If you love people they will love you and you can lead them anywhere and make anything of them it is possible to make.”
This letter was valuable because its writer had lived out every statement in it. He loved his people. He forgot himself. He delighted to quote the words of Alexander Maclaren, “To efface self is one of a preacher’s first duties.” His people loved him because he thought nothing of himself and everything of them.
His self effacement was never more apparent than when he was in the pulpit. He seemed to be unconscious of the existence of J.R. Miller. He seemed to think only of God, and the people; of his Friend and those whom he longed to introduce to his Friend. And he had his reward. Thousands learned from his life the way to God.
Page 2
<< Prior Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next Page >>