SUCCEEDING WITH WHAT ONE HAS

The rich man and Lazarus.

In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Lazarus lies sick and hungry at the door of the Rich Man who only the crumbs that fall from the rich man's table. The Rich Man failed to recognize his opportunity; and when these two passed beyond, Lazarus was taken into the bosom of Abraham, while the Rich Man was consigned to the torments of everlasting punishment.

Wanted: a chance.

The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus must cause each one of us to reflect, that, undoubtedly, he has himself many opportunities lying unnoticed at his door. Indeed, while nearly every boy is prone to say when he sees a successful man, "If only I had his chance," the fact remains that he probably had as good a chance as the successful man but failed to make the most of it. Jesus understood well the weakness in men that makes for failure, both temporal and spiritual, and as was his wont illustrated his point by means of a significant parable.

The parable of the talents.

"The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

"After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

"Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid my talent in the earth: lo, here thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

A general law.

In this parable, Jesus has stated a far-reaching law of truth. It applies to every boy and to every girl, to every man and to every woman. And it operates in every field of endeavor—in the temporal world, in the mental world, in the spiritual world. Perhaps everyone knows someone else who is waiting for an opportunity. Perhaps, you yourselves, like the snail in Hans Christian Andersen's tale of "The Snail and the Rose Bush," think that you have a great deal in you, and say to yourselves as did the snail, "Wait till my time comes, I shall do a great deal more than to yield roses, or to bear nuts, or to give milk as cows do." But in thinking so and saying so you forget the eternal truth taught by Jesus in the parable of the talents. The big opportunity can come only if every day, like the rose bush, you make the most of that day's chance, and contribute the roses and the fragrance of your life to the world.

The water boy.

Let us consider a concrete case. Not so very long ago, there was employed in one of the great American steel works, a young boy to carry water. You all know what that means. And it must be admitted that there is but small opportunity in the humble calling of water-carrier. His master had entrusted the boy with a single talent. But as the master went the rounds of inspection, he observed that the water boy was always on the job. No matter how early the master came, the boy was there before him; no matter how late the master stayed, the boy stayed later than he. He worked, he observed, he studied; he was making his talent grow. By and by, a vacancy occurred higher up. The master did not hesitate. He called to him the water boy, and gave to him the work of greater responsibility. That was but the beginning. Today the water boy is one of the most highly honored and trusted men in the great steel industry of America. No place, you see, is so humble but that it has its own opportunity for service. And that opportunity improved, there lie always greater chances ahead. That opportunity neglected, failure only can follow. One can become ruler of many things only if one has proved oneself faithful in few.

Intellectual endeavor.

Examples might be multiplied to prove the truth of the law taught by Jesus. When boys and girls go to school, it is those who make the most of that opportunity that grow in intelligence and power. They progress steadily until they become leaders of men. Knowledge is added to knowledge, until they master the field in which they are working. On the other hand, those who neglect the opportunity afforded by school attendance, become relatively more and more ignorant. The world forges ahead in knowledge and wisdom. Their industrious associates go forward by strides. But they, themselves, lag ever farther and farther behind. Verily, to him who hath is given, until he possesses in abundance; whereas from him who hath not, is taken even that he had.

Spiritual growth.

But it was not to temporal and mental things only that Jesus meant to apply the law illustrated in the parable of the talents. Perhaps His chief purpose was to apply it to the spiritual life. There, as in the physical life, one must serve, and do one's utmost, in whatever calling God may have placed one. According to one's courage and faithfulness will one's reward be. And that reward, you must note, does not consist of a commission in money. It consists of a larger responsibility, a larger opportunity to serve, a place of greater honor in the kingdom of God. Such a reward—whether in the physical or in the spiritual life—is after all the only reward worth while.

The lesson applied.

Let us grapple to our souls, then, the lesson of this parable. The lasting reward of effort of any kind is not the material gain derived therefrom, but the effect upon one's character—ability developed to do bigger and nobler things; the confidence inspired to carry larger trusts. So, two of the servants of the lord developed in efficiency and ability to do. The other feared. He feared failure—he dared not attempt—he dreaded to venture. His ability, such as it was, became paralyzed. As a result he inspired no confidence—nay, he lost the confidence his lord had reposed in him. Moreover, through his failure to make use of his little opportunity, the slothful servant lost confidence in himself, and thereby squandered his native power to achieve, however small it may have been.

God requires of all of us that we shall serve Him diligently. And service of Godly kind means that we give ourselves wholly to the Lord, all that we have and all that we are. Time, and means, and life, are His, and every word, every thought, every act, should be prompted by loyalty to God and His kingdom. Then are we profitable servants; and then are we multiplying the talents God has entrusted to our care. "Thou shalt not idle away thy time," said Jesus in our own dispensation, "neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known."

THE REFERENCES

Matt. 25:14-30. Doc. and Cov. 60:13.

THE QUESTIONS

1. What is meant by a "chance?"

2. How much smaller opportunity had the servant with one talent than the servant with five?

3. What does the story of the water-boy illustrate?

4. How does the parable of the talents apply to the school life of boys and girls?

5. How does the parable apply to one's spiritual life?

6. What is man's duty to God?

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, Hofmann

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, Hofmann