The Path of Duty, Christian Homes, Family Worship and Christian Employees

Extract

The Path of Duty, Christian Homes, Family Worship and Christian Employees
A. W. Pink

The Path of Duty
Part A

Occasionally we receive a letter from one of our readers who is confronted with what he regards as a perplexing situation, involving perhaps the stirring of his nest and a change of circumstances, expressing himself as very concerned to know what is “God’s will” for him. Our first reaction is to wonder how far the inquirer has been accustomed to make conscience of pleasing God. If the inquirer (or the reader) is only exercised about the Divine will when some pressing situation or emergency faces him, it is a bad sign, betraying a sad state of soul and making it doubtful whether such an one has been truly converted. Just as being very religious on the Sabbath but thoroughly worldly through the week is to have “a form of godliness” but “denying the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:5), so for me to be very solicitous about ascertaining and performing the will of God when some crises arises but to have little regard what He has appointed during the general course of my life, is to place a big question-mark against the genuineness of my Christian profession.

The Most High is not at our beck and call, to be made use of only when we are in difficulty. Those who are indifferent to His honour and glory while things are going smoothly and pleasantly for them, are not likely to receive light and help from Him when they feel disposed to make an accommodation of Him in the evil day. Scripture is too plain upon this matter to be misunderstood: “he that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Prov. 28:9). Of the hypocrite it is said “will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him” (Job 27:9). No, He certainly will not. “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; but …