[Songs in the Night - January 19]
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17
WELL has the wise man said that a friend loveth at
all times.
He who merely loves at a time when he
thinks it will be to his own advantage to love knows
not love.
He who loves and is a brother in prosperity
merely, and whose love and friendship wither under
the heat of persecution, and adversity, has never known
love in its true sense, but merely a certain brand of
selfishness—the love of the world.
As God commended
his love toward us and showed us that not
through selfishness, but generosity, at a great cost to
himself, he provided us release from our prison, and
gave us privileges of sonship, so true love will be
willing to sacrifice.
Let us judge, then, of our love
for others, for the Lord, for the brethren, for our
families, for our neighbors, for our enemies, even, by
our willingness to sacrifice in their interest and for
their highest welfare. Z'08-248 R4224:5 (Hymn 23)