Threefold Disloyalty

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

I am chargeable, the Master says, with a threefold disloyalty.

For my purposes are low. I lay up for myself treasure on earth. 

I am worldly in aim, and I measure everything from the worldly point of view. 

My heart is an earthly disposition, which gives its tinge and tone to all my universe.

And my heart is divided. I seek to serve two masters...God and my own selfish interests. 

And that, of course, means that I am alienated from God, for He will not be content with a spasmodic and conventional allegiance. 

I must be His altogether, His without these miserable reservations.

And my trust is imperfect. I forget my Father's wisdom, my Father's power, my Father's love.

I do not learn the lesson of repose which wayside flowers and happy birds should teach my spirit.

I do not cast all my care on Him who cares for me. I am fretful, distracted, anxious, worried.

I have need that the Master should touch my hot hands, with healing from His own, that the fever may leave me and I may rest.

Ah, my Lord, so mighty and so merciful, rescue me from my besetting sins.

May the low purposes be sublimed and heavenly.

May the divided heart be united to fear Your name.

May the imperfect trust become full and perpetual.

~Alexander Smellie~