Minute Meditations

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.