QUIET HOUR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 August 1926, Page 7

QUIET HOUR

WEARINESS IN AV ELL-DOING (Selected)

“The beginning- is half of the whole,” said; the ancient Greeks. And

it is true —true whether the beginning' be right or wrong. And yet- a good beginning is not enough. Ft is the last step that wins the race. It is the last stroke that fells the tree. It is the last grain of sand that turns- the scales. One of the sterling virtues in practical life is continuance continuance through all obstacles, hindrances and discouragements. It- is unconquerable persistence that wins. The paths- of life, are strewn with the skeletons- ot those who fainted and fell in the

mareir. isuee.essi m every nciu reached through antagonism and. conlliet. In no sphere arc these things. truer thnn in the moral. Many start, well in the .Christian life with rich, hope and glowing ardour, who soon fail. They become discouraged: at, the hardness and toilsomeness of the rvay or at the little impression ,they are able to make upon the world. Such faint-hearted-ness will never win the honours and cro.Avns of immortal life. These are onlv for those Avho overcome. There are two ways of becoming wearv in Avell-doing. We, may become weary in it, or of it, and there is an iinm nrieo, /I l ff.ftVftn ITT "till Pi t\Vft GXTJOI*! -

dices. The best men may grow weary iii the service. Human, nature is frail. We. are not, angels with inexhaustible (lowers of endurance. But we are to guard against, growing weary of our great work, as sometimes we are tempted; even to be. There are discouragements, that sorely try our faith, but, whatever they are, they should not. be allowed to cause us to faint. We may be. tempted' to grow weary of doing good; to others. There are things to discouraga it’ we look no

further than the present. Attainments come slowly. The butte of spiritual growth open, out languidly in tlie ehill climate of this> world. Men’s faults cling tenaciously. Battles are tedious, and victories come painfully, and only after, long and) fierce struggle. Everything about Christian life is difficult of attainment. Many people reject, the blessings God is sending to their doors. Wo come to them laden with rich spiritual tilings, and they turn away to chase some vanishing, illusion. We tell them of Christ and they turn to listen to the siren song that would lure them on the rocks of ruin. That this i« disheartening, cannot be denied. " But does God behold our work? Does He witness our faithfulness in

His service? Suppose the seed does fall partly on tlve hard-trodden, roadwav and yield no fruit; will the sower fail of his reward? Will lie he for- ; votten in that dav when God remembers His faithful- ones? TSIo! Though men may reject your message, if you have given it faithfully and with, true motive, you shall be blessed. Because earth miscontrues and misunderstands, will Heaven? No; there is one place, where men are understood and their work and worth appreciated. No good deed will be forgotten there. No lowly 'sacrifice will be overlooked. There will be commnedation and reward there. We may not reap here, but we shall reap nevertheless. Many who appeal to us for aid are utterly unworthy. Tt is ccrtaihly disheartening to labour for. months to try and help someone, only to- have him prove unworthy, in the end'. Tt seems like building a house, of the costliest

materials in. a quagmire only to sinlt invav out. of sight. Yet they are digging up iii these days buried, palaces ardi cities of the Old. World which h.MiVei long been hidden out. of sight. So work may seem, to sink away and be lost, but’ God yvill let nothing be lost that is done in His name, It will reappear in. the. end. He is faithful and will not- forget your work and labour of love. You will be rewarded even though, your work has been expended on ' unworthy beneficiaries. Though the recipient, of your charity was an imposter, vet. if it was bestowed. in Christ’s Name and. for His sake, lie will say at the last, “Ye did it uo.to Me.’’

Another is. discouraged because there seems no blessing on his work. You are a parent, and you have been labouring and struggling for years for your child’s salvation, yet you do not see the hoped-for result. You are a teacher, and although you toil with all vour might, you do not. notice, any impression on the live?' of those you teach. Or von are a. preacher and you preach with, all faithfulness and diligence. but men do not turn to the Lord, and you are heavy hearted and .sometimes tempted, to give it all up in despair. » But: do you really know your work is not. blessedi? Do yon know that there are no results? Tilings are not ‘what thev seem. The quickest, most evident successes as they appear to be, are often in reality the worst failures. The least c-omes of them in. the end. In .Christian work we have frequently to discount sudden and tropical growths or at least, to fear for. their genuineness and permanence. The quiet and gradual growth, is usually the truest. Then we cannot measure spiritual results as we can those which are physical. The artist sees the picture growing: ou the canvas as lie works day by da'v. The builder sees tlio wall rising as he lays stone on stone. But the spiritual builder is working with invisible blocks, is" rearing a fabric whose walls he. cannot see. The spiritual artist is .painting away in the- unseen. His eyes cannot, behold the- impressions, the touches of beauty he makes. The old water-wheel turns round and round 1 outside the wall. Tt seems to be idle work that, it- is doing. You see nothing accomplished. But its shaft runs through the mill wall and turns a great system of machinery there, and makes bread to feed many a hungry .mouth. So we toil away, many of us. and. see no rewards or fruity. But if we are. true to God! we arc making results somewhere for His glory and the good of others. The shaft runs through into the unseen and turns wheels there, preparing blessings and food for hungry lives. Xo true work for Christ can ever fail. Somewhere. smuic time, there will be results. AVo rfeed’ not be discouraged or disheartened, for in due time we shall reap if we faint- not*.

A RESOLVE

1 would' bo true, for there arc those trust- me, I would' he pure, for there are those who care, I would! he strong for there is much * to suffer, I would he brave 1 , for there is much to dare. I would he friend' to all —to foe, to friendless, I would he giving and forget the gift, I would he humble, for T know my weakness, I would look up, and laugh—and love—and lift-