Amusement should be used to do us good “like a medicine”: it must never be used as the food of the man...Many have had all holy thoughts and gracious resolutions stamped out by perpetual trifling. Pleasure so called is the murderer of thought. This is the age of excessive amusement: everybody craves for it, like a babe for its rattle.
What an encouraging thought that Jesus - our beloved Husband - can find comfort in our lowly feeble gifts! Can this be, for it seems far too good to be true? May we then be willing to endure trials or even death itself if through these hardships we are assisted in bringing gladness to Immanuel's heart.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the idea that even our humble offerings can bring joy to Jesus, encouraging us to endure hardships for a higher purpose.
In this quote, Charles Spurgeon highlights the comforting notion that our small and seemingly insignificant efforts can bring happiness to Jesus, often referred to as Immanuel. It suggests that despite our weaknesses and limitations, there is profound value in our willingness to persevere through challenges, as these struggles may contribute to a greater purpose of spreading joy and love, ultimately seeking to please God.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a church service to inspire the congregation about the value of their contributions.
More from Charles Spurgeon
All quotes →When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle.
It is far easier to fight with sin in public than to pray against it in private.
You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.
After faith comes repentance, or, rather, repentance is faith's twin brother and is born at the same time.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
Similar quotes
Hope is like an anchor. Our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life, but unlike an anchor, it does not hold us back.
I trust Jesus with all my tomorrows, knowing that He will solve the mystery of life beyond the grave.
Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love—but sometimes it was so hard to love. Sometimes my heart was sinking so fast with anger, desolation and weariness, I was afraid it would sink to the very bottom of the Pacific and I would not be able to lift it back up.
The only saving faith is that which casts itself on God for life or death.
It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion.
My father has been faithful to the calling that God gave him: that is, to preach the Gospel... He has presented Christ to every person that God has put before him.