Aug. 10

Charles Spurgeon · Faith's Checkbook

HE LOWERS TO RAISE

   "The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth
   up" I Sam 2:7

   All my changes come from Him who never changes. If I had grown rich, I
   should have seen His hand in it, and I should have praised Him; let me
   equally see His hand if I am made poor, and let me as heartily praise
   Him. When we go down in the world, it is of the Lord, and so we may
   take it patiently: when we rise in the world, it is of the Lord, and we
   may accept it thankfully. In any case, the Lord hath done it, and it is
   well.

   It seems that Jehovah's way is to lower those whom He means to raise,
   and to strip those whom He intends to clothe. If it is His way, it is
   the wisest and best way. If I am now enduring the bringing low I may
   well rejoice, because I see in it the preface to the lifting up. The
   more we are humbled by grace, the more we shall be exalted in glory.
   That impoverishment which will be overruled for our enrichment is to be
   welcomed.

   O Lord, thou has taken me down of late, and made me feel my
   insignificance and sin. It is not a pleasant experience, but I pray
   thee make it a profitable one to me. Oh, that thou wouldst thus fit me
   to bear a greater weight of delight and of usefulness; and when I am
   ready for it, then grant it to me, for Christ's sake! Amen.