The Necklace

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  “SHE WAS one of those pretty, charming young ladies, born, as if through an error of destiny, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no hopes, no means of becoming known, appreciated, loved, and married by a man either rich or distinguished; and she allowed herself to marry a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. . . .  She had neither frocks nor jewels, nothing. And she loved only those things. She felt that she was made for them. She had such a desire to please, to be sought after, to be clever, and courted.” —THE NECKLACE Guy de Maupassant    France, 1884 (pic by Grok) Read this short story here:  https://americanliterature.com/author/guy-de-maupassant/short-story/the-necklace

Content with your profession?

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“Let me pull you by the sleeve, my Brothers and Sisters—you who say, ‘I am a Christian.’ You believe that God is ‘a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.’ Do you seek Him diligently? How much of the Scriptures have you read during the last week? How many hours have you spent in prayer? ‘Hours?’ you ask! ‘Say minutes.’ How much have you lived for God during the past month? What have you done with a distinct view to His Glory? What souls have you tried to win? What Truths of God have you tried to teach? What virtues have you tried to set forth? You say that He is “a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”—do you despise the reward? Are you content with having made a profession of religion?”

C.H. Spurgeon, “What Is Essential In Coming To God?” A sermon preached August 18, 1901.

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