Practical Issues of This Life

by Watchman Nee

Life on earth has its many cares and problems. Yet not because we are Christians are we therefore exempt from having them. Nevertheless, God has given us His precious and exceedingly great promises that we may live a life of heaven on earth. In the pages that are to follow, Watchman Nee takes up these various problems of this life, such problems as tears, the temper, our tongue, and so forth, and then shows us how they can be transformed by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit into values of eternal worth. Instead of being smothered, we may breathe the air of heaven.  The selection of messages included in this volume, dealing as they all do with the practical issues of this life, were given by the author on various occasions during the earlier days of his ministry in China. The truths contained are nonetheless relevant and applicable to us today, since in spite of the great changes that have occurred in the world, this life itself retains all the cares and problems which it has always had. In this connection, we need again to be reminded of our Lord's admonition to His disciples, "Take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with the cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare" (Luke 21.34).

Genres: Theology

163 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1938

About the author

Watchman Nee (Chinese: 倪柝聲; pinyin: Ní Tuòshēng; Foochow Romanized: Ngà̤ Táuk-sĭng; 1903–1972) was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. Together with Wangzai, Zhou-An Lee, Shang-Jie Song, and others, Nee founded The Church Assembly Hall, later which would be also known as the "Local churches" (Chinese: 地方教會). or more commonly as (聚會所) meaning "assembly hall"

Born into a Methodist family, Watchman Nee experienced a religious revival, and joined the Church of Heavenly Peace, Fuzhou in 1920 at age 17 and began writing in the same year. In 1921, he met the British missionary M. E. Barber, who was a great influence on him. Through Miss Barber, Nee was introduced to many of the Christian writings which were to have a profound influence on him and his teachings. Nee attended no theological schools or Bible institutes. His knowledge was acquired through studying the Bible and reading various Christian spiritual books. During his 30 years of ministry, beginning in 1922, Nee traveled throughout China planting churches among the rural communities and holding Christian conferences and trainings in Shanghai. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith; he remained in prison until his death in 1972.

Reviews

[Dmitry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of Watchman Nee's short sermons or essays, many of which really cut deep to the essence of our walk with God:

1. Precious Are the Tears
"How easy it is to speak of people's weakness, but how hard to speak it with tears. Yet only the person who has tears is ever really qualified to speak."

2. Mastering Temper
"The matter of losing one's temper is a considerably big problem to us, yet in the Bible we are not even able to find the word 'temper.' What we view as a most common fault seems to be ignored completely in the Bible. Why? Because the losing of temper is a symptom, not a disease."

3. Idle Words Leak Life
"You may reimburse someone for things stolen, but by what means can you repay the damage done through idle words?"

4. God Speaks Through Environment
"In every circumstance God has something to say to us... Though we cannot say that all circumstances are initiated by the throne, nevertheless we do affirm that all of them are governed by it."

5. Numbering Our Days

6. The Lord is Never Discouraged
"Aside from the Lord there are many other waters of which you drink. No wonder you do not treasure the Lord."

7. A Deeper Joy
"How can we ever truly know God if we look elsewhere? We do not know Him because we have too many other things. We obtain too much comfort and glory from men to be able to lead people to God. Indeed, if our heart is so full of things other than Him, then we ourselves hardly know Him."
"Many times we seem to ask for bread, yet without realizing that in actual fact we are asking for a stone; and so what God gives us may appear to be a stone whereas in truth it is bread."

8. Rest is Power

9. Christ's Mind Our Mind

10. The Sympathy of the High Priest
"The Lord is sympathetic towards the infirmities of men, but He is never soft on sins."

[Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was familiar with Watchman Nee as I had read some of his most influential books, The Normal Christian Life, Sit, Walk, Stand and Love Not The World when a young disciple of Jesus'. However, I was not familiar with this wee book, which was gifted to me by a dear sister in the Lord.

This wee book is quaint in subject matter but exceptionally challenging in its message! Nee in all his writings that I have read wants all believers in Jesus to walk closely with him and enjoy the nearness of his p[resence no matter what else is going on and in this wee book he cuts right into some of the most poisoned areas of our spiritual lives to do so.

The various chapters deal with tears, temper, tongue etc, and chapters 4: Environment - God speaks through environment and 6: Disappointment - The Lord is never discouraged really challenged me! At £4.95 from ICM Books, it is perhaps the best £5 you'll ever spend!

A 5-star read indeed!

[Holly Stansbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t agree with all the theology of this book, but I was so encouraged and convicted throughout. he talked about things in a unique way, like the first chapter on tears; he emphasizes their importance and that we ought to be asking God for them. I appreciate that. a good ‘un. I liked this book.

[LAMONT D · Rating 3 out of 5]

TIMELESS TRUTHS WITH UNIQUE AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF SCRIPTURES TO EVERYDAY ISSUES OF LIVING A CHRISTIAN LIFE. THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME THINGS I CAN THINK ABOUT AND PONDER AS I READ THROUGH THIS BOOK AGAIN (INCLUDING IDLE WORDS THAT I SPEAK AND REALIZING I HAVE A HIGH PRIEST THAT WILL SYMPATHIZE WITH ME IN WHATEVER I AM GOING THROUGH).

[Jan Mcleod · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. The contents seemed inappropriate.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watchman Nee is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors.