1 year ago
#sermon
Published in 1934
Sermon can be downloaded from archive.org (Mirror)
TEN MINUTE SERMON
KNOW THYSELF J. L. Boyd, Bowmar Avenue Church Vicksburg, Miss.
One of the greatest philosophers of all time was Socrates whose predominant teaching to his pupils, it is said, was this: Know Thyself. This was his philosophy of life. We must admit that it is a good, sound doctrine so far as it goes. What better subject could one study than self; and what more interesting subject. It is a subject that every person should be well acquainted with. Ignorance of self is inexcusable and a crime. Ignorance is bliss ONLY when it is folly to be wise; and it is the part of wisdom to know self.
An amusing scene is that of a little baby just beginning to sit alone when he for the first time finds his toes. How surprised and pleased he is when he grabs them and discovers that they are his own extremities. He is discovering self, and it takes a long time for him to find out all there is to be known about himself.
I want us this morning to turn the search-light on self. We shall not need a telescope, but a microscope. Know thyself - know your limitations and your possibilities; know your weaknesses and your latent powers.
KNOW THYSELF IN LIGHT OF SELF
What do we think? That is what we are, or what we are to become. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Prov. 23:7). Are our thoughts clean and wholesome? Or are they base and-low and impure? What do we read or what pictures do we see to feed our minds upon? There is an abundance of good, clean, wholesome literature that one may read during his leisure hours, and some few pictures of this nature, which are calculated to furnish food for a healthy moral growth. Then there is an over-abundance of the opposite kind-filthy, vile, obscene, sordid, foul and dirty upon which one may satiate his mind to the detriment of his own well-being as well as the moral safety of others. In other words, the good and the bad are set before us. Which will we choose? Our choice will determine what we are. The humming bird sucks the nectar from the flowers that are kissed by the dews of heaven, while the buzzard seeks low for the carrion, gulps it down and seems to like it.
Again, what do we aspire to be? That is what we are, or what we shall be. How do we spend our leisure time and spare money? That is what we are. Know thyself in the light of self.
KNOW THYSELF IN LIGHT OF OTHERS
All men are one in origin and by nature. "God made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth." (Acts 17:26). We are akin, whether we will admit it or not, having like aptitudes, limitations and weaknesses as well as similar powers and possibilities. We are chips off the same block, as it were. So, we may know ourselves by what we know others to be. What others do we would do, too, perhaps, in the same setting.
Picture in your mind the worst person you know or ever knew, in the lowest stratum of human society likely, not fit to associate with decent people. That is what we would be, too, perhaps under similar circumstances and a like environment. Let us not put too much confidence in self to think we can by our own power or superior qualities hold ourselves above the low level to which some have gone.
But on the other hand, what others have done we can do also, doubtless. Think of the best or greatest person you know or ever knew. That is what you may be. It is within your reach. It is not unattainable.
"Lives of great men all remind us
That we can make our lives sublime;
And, departing, leave behind us
Foot prints on the sands of time."
Another has said that "genius is the capacity of taking infinite pains." And John D. Rockefeller, Jr., maintains that "Genuine success means simply doing the common things of life uncommonly well." The eminence of success in the Christian life as well as in every other endeavor is attained by "toiling upward in the night" while others sleep. A most beautiful Christian character coupled with the greatest earthly joy is within the reach of everyone who will make the application and use the means at hand. Others have attained it; why not you? Know thyself in the light of others.
KNOW THYSELF IN LIGHT OF GOD'S WORD
From the Word of God we may know most about ourselves. Physically, we are frail; like grass that groweth up and withereth; like a flower that fadeth away. "He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust." (Psa. 103:14). The elements of man's body have been variously estimated by scientists to be worth on the open market from twenty-five to seventy-five cents. Mighty cheap.
But on the other hand, God's Word reveals that man is of infinite worth. More valuable than many sparrows, yea, than all the material universe. Man's redemption cost heaven tremendously, not of corruptible things as silver and gold, but of the precious blood of Christ, the blessed Son of God, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
It teaches also that man is totally depraved by nature with a bent toward sin and a tendency to evil. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and is exceedingly corrupt; who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9). As an illustration of man's downward trend we read again in Genesis, sixth chapter, fifth verse: "And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Let go, man would not rise, but fall; not toward God and heaven, but in the opposite direction. The reason is that he is dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the prince of the power of the air, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind." (Eph. 2:1-3).
Yet quickened by the power of God and touched by grace divine we mortals are capable of attaining to the highest heights, even of becoming like unto God in moral character and spiritual desire. Now power within ourselves can effect the change nor accomplish the results. But yielded to the beneficent influence of the Holy Spirit and casting ourselves on the promises of God and our lot in with the forces that make for righteousness, heaven alone knows the heights to be attained. Know thyself in the light of God's Word.
KNOW THYSELF AND GOD
One cannot know all about himself without knowing God. We may be somewhat acquainted with the creature without a knowledge of the Creator; but not a great deal. And herein lies the tragedy with many a person. The story is told that while Mark Twain was touring Europe there came an invitation while in Berlin to visit the Kaiser. The little daughter of the famed humourist, after contemplating the missive in speechless awe for a moment exclaimed: "Why, papa, if it keeps on this way there won't be anybody for you to get acquainted with but God!"
Of our great American horticulturist and perhaps the world's greatest some one wrote: "He loved the garden, but he never met the Gardener." How tragic, if Mr. Burbank never knew the great Gardener, the One who did the greater part of the almost unbelievable wonders with the fruits and flowers in California's sunny clime! But it is just as great a tragedy for any of us here today who might have considerable knowledge of this beautiful and wonderful world and not know Him who put it all together and keeps it going in all its harmony. Know thyself and all there is to be known of all these wonderful things. But with all thy knowledge seek to know God. Get acquainted with Him, and cultivate His acquaintance. It is to your interest.
Sermon can be downloaded from archive.org (Mirror)
TEN MINUTE SERMON
KNOW THYSELF J. L. Boyd, Bowmar Avenue Church Vicksburg, Miss.
One of the greatest philosophers of all time was Socrates whose predominant teaching to his pupils, it is said, was this: Know Thyself. This was his philosophy of life. We must admit that it is a good, sound doctrine so far as it goes. What better subject could one study than self; and what more interesting subject. It is a subject that every person should be well acquainted with. Ignorance of self is inexcusable and a crime. Ignorance is bliss ONLY when it is folly to be wise; and it is the part of wisdom to know self.
An amusing scene is that of a little baby just beginning to sit alone when he for the first time finds his toes. How surprised and pleased he is when he grabs them and discovers that they are his own extremities. He is discovering self, and it takes a long time for him to find out all there is to be known about himself.
I want us this morning to turn the search-light on self. We shall not need a telescope, but a microscope. Know thyself - know your limitations and your possibilities; know your weaknesses and your latent powers.
KNOW THYSELF IN LIGHT OF SELF
What do we think? That is what we are, or what we are to become. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Prov. 23:7). Are our thoughts clean and wholesome? Or are they base and-low and impure? What do we read or what pictures do we see to feed our minds upon? There is an abundance of good, clean, wholesome literature that one may read during his leisure hours, and some few pictures of this nature, which are calculated to furnish food for a healthy moral growth. Then there is an over-abundance of the opposite kind-filthy, vile, obscene, sordid, foul and dirty upon which one may satiate his mind to the detriment of his own well-being as well as the moral safety of others. In other words, the good and the bad are set before us. Which will we choose? Our choice will determine what we are. The humming bird sucks the nectar from the flowers that are kissed by the dews of heaven, while the buzzard seeks low for the carrion, gulps it down and seems to like it.
Again, what do we aspire to be? That is what we are, or what we shall be. How do we spend our leisure time and spare money? That is what we are. Know thyself in the light of self.
KNOW THYSELF IN LIGHT OF OTHERS
All men are one in origin and by nature. "God made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth." (Acts 17:26). We are akin, whether we will admit it or not, having like aptitudes, limitations and weaknesses as well as similar powers and possibilities. We are chips off the same block, as it were. So, we may know ourselves by what we know others to be. What others do we would do, too, perhaps, in the same setting.
Picture in your mind the worst person you know or ever knew, in the lowest stratum of human society likely, not fit to associate with decent people. That is what we would be, too, perhaps under similar circumstances and a like environment. Let us not put too much confidence in self to think we can by our own power or superior qualities hold ourselves above the low level to which some have gone.
But on the other hand, what others have done we can do also, doubtless. Think of the best or greatest person you know or ever knew. That is what you may be. It is within your reach. It is not unattainable.
"Lives of great men all remind us
That we can make our lives sublime;
And, departing, leave behind us
Foot prints on the sands of time."
Another has said that "genius is the capacity of taking infinite pains." And John D. Rockefeller, Jr., maintains that "Genuine success means simply doing the common things of life uncommonly well." The eminence of success in the Christian life as well as in every other endeavor is attained by "toiling upward in the night" while others sleep. A most beautiful Christian character coupled with the greatest earthly joy is within the reach of everyone who will make the application and use the means at hand. Others have attained it; why not you? Know thyself in the light of others.
KNOW THYSELF IN LIGHT OF GOD'S WORD
From the Word of God we may know most about ourselves. Physically, we are frail; like grass that groweth up and withereth; like a flower that fadeth away. "He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust." (Psa. 103:14). The elements of man's body have been variously estimated by scientists to be worth on the open market from twenty-five to seventy-five cents. Mighty cheap.
But on the other hand, God's Word reveals that man is of infinite worth. More valuable than many sparrows, yea, than all the material universe. Man's redemption cost heaven tremendously, not of corruptible things as silver and gold, but of the precious blood of Christ, the blessed Son of God, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
It teaches also that man is totally depraved by nature with a bent toward sin and a tendency to evil. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and is exceedingly corrupt; who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9). As an illustration of man's downward trend we read again in Genesis, sixth chapter, fifth verse: "And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Let go, man would not rise, but fall; not toward God and heaven, but in the opposite direction. The reason is that he is dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the prince of the power of the air, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind." (Eph. 2:1-3).
Yet quickened by the power of God and touched by grace divine we mortals are capable of attaining to the highest heights, even of becoming like unto God in moral character and spiritual desire. Now power within ourselves can effect the change nor accomplish the results. But yielded to the beneficent influence of the Holy Spirit and casting ourselves on the promises of God and our lot in with the forces that make for righteousness, heaven alone knows the heights to be attained. Know thyself in the light of God's Word.
KNOW THYSELF AND GOD
One cannot know all about himself without knowing God. We may be somewhat acquainted with the creature without a knowledge of the Creator; but not a great deal. And herein lies the tragedy with many a person. The story is told that while Mark Twain was touring Europe there came an invitation while in Berlin to visit the Kaiser. The little daughter of the famed humourist, after contemplating the missive in speechless awe for a moment exclaimed: "Why, papa, if it keeps on this way there won't be anybody for you to get acquainted with but God!"
Of our great American horticulturist and perhaps the world's greatest some one wrote: "He loved the garden, but he never met the Gardener." How tragic, if Mr. Burbank never knew the great Gardener, the One who did the greater part of the almost unbelievable wonders with the fruits and flowers in California's sunny clime! But it is just as great a tragedy for any of us here today who might have considerable knowledge of this beautiful and wonderful world and not know Him who put it all together and keeps it going in all its harmony. Know thyself and all there is to be known of all these wonderful things. But with all thy knowledge seek to know God. Get acquainted with Him, and cultivate His acquaintance. It is to your interest.