Brighten the Corner Where You Are

Does this sound like an expose` on the society page of the paper? “People are totally self-centered, money hungry, blowhards. They are proud and crafty, having no regard for the morals taught by their parents. They are without appreciation, morality, and basic regard for others. They lack self-control and are haughty. Their passions are without principles, slippery, self-centered, stuck-up, absorbed at all times with that which gives them pleasure, and not what pleases the Lord. In matters of religion they are hypocritical, but their conduct exposes their lack of genuine faith.”

If that sounds descriptive of our time it should. A different rendition is found in the Bible book of II Timothy 3: 1-5. There it goes like this.

“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

In verse 1 of the text it is introduced like this, “…know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” It will be a time of great danger.

It concludes with how Christians should relate to such people if at all possible, “from such people turn away!” That is, don’t hang out with such people.

It is as though the doctor has made a diagnosis, but offered no prescription. We know what is wrong, but as individuals we do not know what to do.

Start by noting the 10 points in the text one by one and check your behavior on each. That is, brighten the corner where you are.

Thomas Jefferson noted in his writings that the streets at night in Philadelphia were dark and full of bad conduct. He put up a pole in his yard and hung a lamp on it. Soon a neighbor did the same. The process resulted in all the streets eventually lighted.

Billy Sunday, the Billy Graham of his day, had a vocal group sing this little chorus at all of his crusades.

“Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear,
Let not narrow self your way debar;
Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,
Brighten the corner where you are.

        Refrain:
Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!

Become involved in the events of your community. Study the social and political issues of the day and let your voice be heard. There is another little chorus that supports this concept. Sing it and do it.

“This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine.”

Shine on.