Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a desire to engage in meaningful action, even in difficult circumstances, rather than seeking comfort and safety.
Charles Studd's quote contrasts two distinct approaches to life: one that seeks the comfort of serene surroundings, symbolized by the 'sound of a chapel bell', and another that embraces the challenges of life by actively engaging in helping those in dire situations, represented by the 'rescue shop' near 'Hell'. This highlights the importance of courage and conviction in pursuing a life dedicated to service and positive change, even when faced with adversity.
In practice
During a motivational speech on volunteering, I might say, 'As Charles Studd once said, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell, emphasizing the need for courage in serving others.
I cannot tell you what joy it gave me to bring the first soul to the Lord Jesus Christ. I have tasted almost all the pleasures that this world can give. I do not suppose there is one that I have not experienced, but I can tell you that those pleasures were as nothing compared to the joy that the saving of that one soul gave me.
Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible, by faith in the omnipotence, fidelity, and wisdom of the Almighty Saviour Who gave the command. Is there a wall in our path? By our God we will leap over it! Are there lions and scorpions in our way? We will trample them under our feet! Does a mountain bar our progress? Saying, 'Be thou cast into the sea,' we will march on. Soldiers of Jesus! Never surrender!
...I do not say, Don't play games or cricket and so forth. By all means play and enjoy them, giving thanks to Jesus for them. Only take care that games do not become an idol to you as they did to me. What good will it do to anybody in the next world to have been the best player that ever has been? And then think of the difference between that and winning souls for Jesus.
I realized that my life was to be one of simple, childlike faith, and that my part was to trust, not to do. I was to trust in Him and He would work in me to do His good pleasure. From that time my life was different.
Real Christians revel in desperate ventures for Christ, expecting from God great things and attempting the same with exhilaration.
It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.
I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experience behind him.
If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated suffering.
This is the greatest country under the sun. But we must not let our love of country, our patriotic loyalty, cause us to abate one whit in our protest against wrong and injustice.
In 1985, I joined my mother in a protest against apartheid in which we were arrested at the South African embassy in Washington, D.C. And she was at President-elect Mandela's side in Johannesburg when he claimed victory in South Africa's first free elections.
Fear can have a voice, but it doesn't get a vote.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.