Holiness: For the Will of God Is Your Sanctification – 1 Thessalonians 4:3 [Annotated, Updated]

by J.C. Ryle

Even more than this, he chose the company of a despised people. He left the society of the great and wise, among whom he had been brought up, and joined himself to the children of Israel. He who had lived from infancy in the midst of power, riches, and luxury came down from his high position and cast in his lot with poor men – slaves, serfs, bondservants, oppressed, destitute, afflicted, tormented – laborers in the brick kiln. How wonderful this choice was! We generally think it is enough for us to carry our own troubles. We might be sorry for others who are lowly and despised. We might even try to help them. We might donate some money or even speak up on their behalf, but we generally stop there.