THE SECRET OF JEROBOAM'S SUCCESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 282, 28 November 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SECRET OF JEROBOAM'S SUCCESS.

, . (By S.) Jeroboam, the first of the kings of Northern Israel, was of lowly origin. Brought tip in a humble home, his mother, a widow, in straitened circumstances, he was sent early to work and made to take his place alongside the horny-handed sons of toil. Yet. he succeeded in shooting ahead of them all, and, in a few years, actually climbed to a throne. To what was his amazing success due? In the first place it was due to ambition, to an eager and determined desire for preferment and power. A great deal has been said against ambition in literature, both sacred and secular. but there can be no question that ambition often serves to quicken and develop qualities that otherwise would remain latent. And there can be no question that if Jeroboam had had no soul above mortar and stones —he was a foreman mason when we first see —the chances are that he would have remained at the one level all his lite long. In the second place, his success -was due to the favour of Solomon. He, "seeing the young man that he was industrious, made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph." Aye, and but for favour or influence, call it ■what we will, it is doubtful if a quarter of the people who occupy responsible and remunerative positions at this moment would do so. It is neither the most alio nor the most deserving people "who are always, or even usually, the most successful. In the case of Jeroboam, however, there sore than

influence, there was more than the favour of the king; there was native ability and desert. It was the ability and the industry and the enthusiasm of the young mason that drew the' king's attention to him and secured his favour. And favour secured in that way no one can justly complain of. Jeroboam gave himself wholeheartedly to whatever lie was set to do. He put spirit into his work. He measured his capacity and made the most of himself, and advancement gradually came. Here is a lesson to the younger people among us to do their work as Hugh Miller used to write, so that no other can improve on it, to fulfil their lot, and keep their counsel, and try to end their career at least a little higher up the ladder than when they began it, and, even if they don't they can continue optimistic and goodnatured and cheery. We need not all expect to be advanced to the top of our trade or profession. It would be a foolish dream. Life would be utterly impossible if we were. And life is not given us so much to try and'climb the ladder of place and power, as to fashion ourselves.' on the rock of character, of Christian character, into men and women who will endure. And, if we do this, if we aim at being more than at receiving, and seek the favour of the King who ,s our true Master and our best friend, we can be assured that in a better world than this we shall receive greater rewards than the best it can give.