"Still another might say, "IF I had only had the opportunities that other men have had, I might have been a great success."
"And so we might stand and look with discouraged hearts at the "ifs"
before us and stop dead still.
"Well, now, let us look into this a little. Let us search the Scriptures and find a word of comfort. But search as we may, we find the word "Success" there only once. Why only once? Probably because the Bible has a much bigger and better word, and that word is "Life."
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life," says the Master; and again, "I am the Resurrection and the Life." This wonderful word was often on His lips. To Him, success was life. To live was all that earth could desire. To live was to see in these stones--[Indicate the stones in the drawing]--not stumbling-blocks but stepping-stones to success.
[Add the letters "L" and "E," completing the word "Life."] When you and I see the true life, then will all our "ifs" depart.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 20]
"Abraham Lincoln was one who saw these stones before him. How did he look upon them?
"The obscurity of his birth was no "if" to him--it was the foundation of his n.o.ble character.
"The poverty of his early years was no "if" to him--it was the thing which caused him to appreciate every blessing of after life.
"The denial of his means to an education when a boy was no "if" to him--it caused his maturer mind to hunger after learning, even in his later years.
"The bitter opposition which he met throughout his tempestuous political career was no "if" to him--it softened his nature and drew him nearer to the G.o.d of love in whom he placed his trust.
"No one should envy him his opportunities, for he made every one of them himself, just as you or I may do.
"It would seem to me, as I look at the life of this great man, that the secret of his success lay in his determination to make every stumbling block a stepping stone. In order to do it, he held steadfastly to the hand of G.o.d, when, it seemed, all other friends had failed. It was then that he said, "I do the best I know--the very best I can--and I mean to keep right on doing so until the end."
"G.o.d has not yet given us wings to fly with, but He has given us feet to climb with, and if we use them for all they are worth, we can climb near enough to heaven"s gate to step right in when the summons come.
"Boys and girls, men and women, the opportunity for success--for Life--is given to each one of us, just as truly as it was given to Abraham Lincoln. We could not have taken his place. Perhaps he could not have taken yours or mine. It is for each of us to work out his own success, just as he did."
THE FRUITS OF RICHES --Humility --Wealth
If the Love of Gold Controls the Life Naught but Poverty of Soul Can Result.
THE LESSON--That while wealth, honestly earned, may be a blessing, the life devoted to the getting of riches cannot hope for true happiness.
The Scriptures do not condemn the possession of riches, but they do have some strong things to say against the wrongful attainment of wealth and the harmful use of money. The talk here presented is designed to impress this thought. In outlining the drawing be sure to place the lettering exactly as shown in the design.
~~The Talk.~~
"The Bible has a good deal to say about rich people and poor people.
Solomon, it seems, thought it best to be neither poor nor rich, for he wrote, "Give me neither poverty nor riches," and I believe that this sentiment would be that of most of us. At any rate, the richer he got, the farther he went from G.o.d. But we must have money--enough to meet the needs of our lives. We need it for the buying of our food, our clothing, our homes, our books and in a thousand other ways. But I hope that none of us will ever reach the point where the governing principle in our lives will be to get money for money"s sake.
"Money-madness seems to be the dominant characteristic of many people. They appear to think that wealth will gain for them all that may be desired to make life happy. We might ill.u.s.trate the thought by saying that they sow or plant their money and hope that it will bring forth a fruitage of the blessings for which they long. [Draw the bag of money, the earth line, the stalk of the plant and the outline of the foliage, all with black.] And what do the possessors of riches expect as a harvest in return for the sowing of their wealth? First, let us put down Pleasure. [Put in the word Pleasure, using red for the lettering.] And they expect to be leaders in smart society, so we will add to the list Social Prestige. [Add Social Prestige.] They expect their a.s.sociates to be impressed with the evidence of luxury in their palatial homes and in all they have and do. So we will add Luxury to the list. [Add Luxury.] And through it all they think they will possess that degree of satisfaction and contentment which we call comfort, so we will add this to the list. [Add Comfort.] And, finally, let us add a word to indicate that element which the wealthy sometimes possess in a worldly sense, representing their ability to direct the happiness or unhappiness of those who are less fortunate in their possession of worldly goods. That word is Power. [Add Power, completing Fig. 21.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 21]
"Here, then, is the picture of the result as longed for by the possessors of riches, whose lives are devoted to the attainment of things of this world alone.
"But, alas, how often are bright hopes shattered! "He that maketh haste to be rich," says Solomon, "shall not be innocent." A glance at the daily paper tells us how true it is that when the love of money takes possession of the heart, pleasure is driven out. How often, too, does the aspiring social leader find himself outrivalled in the foolish race, and social prestige vanishes. And with such experiences as these, the home of wealth loses the longed-for luxury, comfort and worldly power. And what has come to take the place of these which were only dreams? [With the broad side of the black crayon fill in solidly the portions of the foliage area, leaving only the word Sorrow. Add the words, "The love of money is the root of all evil," completing Fig. 22, which shows the root and the trunk of a tree that looks more like the tree of death than "The Tree of Life."]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 22]
"Such is too often the result of the love of money, which, as Paul tells us, "is the root of all evil." But, happily, there is another side to the matter. Many of the wealthy of the earth have blessed and are blessing mankind and in return are themselves blessed. In harmony with the thought, Dr. Van d.y.k.e says: I do not mean to say that the possession of much money is always a real barrier to real wealth of mind and heart. Nor would I maintain that all the poor of this world are rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom. And if some of the rich of this world (through the grace of Him with whom all things are possible) are also modest in their minds and ready to be pleased with unbought pleasures, they simply share in the best things which are provided for all."
"None of us may ever be rich in earthly possessions, but even the strife after the money necessary for our actual needs may shut out our vision of the things of greater value. Let us always hold fast to that which is good, remembering always that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.
"Let us put out of our lives all envy, all jealousy, all desire for the artificial, and learn the lessons of humility, patience, confidence and good cheer which are all about us if we but turn our faces and our hearts toward them."
THE CHRIST-CHILD --Christmas --Giving
A Lesson From the Story of the Shepherds and the Wise Men.
THE LESSON--That the Light that was shed when the Christ-Child came to earth now brightens the farthest corners of the world.
Nothing is more beautiful and impressive than the story of the Christ-Child. It cannot be repeated too often, and it is essential at Christmas time.
~~The Talk.~~
"Let us hear once more the wonderful story of the shepherds who played such a large part in the first Christmas. [Read Luke 2:8-18. When you reach the words, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem," draw the lines representing the city, using brown crayon. On completing the reading of verse 18, continue the narrative by reading Matthew 2:1-2 and 2:9-11. When you reach the words, "the star which they saw in the east went before them and stood over where the young child was," draw the star, with its rays, in orange, completing Fig. 23. This ends the reading.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 23]
"I wish we could picture to ourselves the scene in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. We are told that there was such an immense crowd there that Joseph and Mary could find no shelter in the inn, but we should know that this does not mean a hotel, for they had nothing of this kind in Bethlehem. Indeed, it would not have been required, because all that the thousands of visitors needed was the permission to sleep on the floor on their own mats which they brought with them. This is the custom even today. It was a sacred duty of every Jew to give shelter to his countrymen who were on a journey, so, instead of an inn, the real meaning is that there was no room for them in any house in Bethlehem. It is probable that the stable in which they sought refuge was a rough cave, such as are to be found in that neighborhood now. So, let us note at the beginning that Jesus, the Savior, was born amidst the most humble surroundings, and also that when the angels came to announce His birth, they did not choose to tell the good news first to the rich and the powerful, but brought the wonderful story to the humble shepherds who watched their flocks by night on the hillside. But it was not to stop there. No, G.o.d wanted the world to know that the kingdom of love which came with the birth of Jesus was for the high and the lowly alike. So, by the brilliant star He guided the wise men from the east to worship Him and place at His feet the precious jewels and costly gifts, which show that they were men of great wealth and wisdom.
"So, we see, the coming of Jesus was to bring a blessing to all men. It was to be a kingdom of love which would include the whole wide world, "for G.o.d so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that _whosoever_ believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
"Let us remember that G.o.d "gave" His Son to the world--it was the first and greatest Christmas Gift. We can never repay Him for this marvelous expression of His love. All we can do is to endeavor every day of our lives to do good and thus give as best we can of the blessings which have come from Him.
"At Christmas time we seem to have no difficulty in showing kindness to those about us. The earth is filled with His spirit, so that in millions of churches and homes throughout the world today we find a reflection of the star of Bethlehem in the countless shining candles and glittering electric lights which adorn the Christmas trees. [Draw candle flames and rays in orange. Draw tree in green, and use brown to fill in the trunk and the foundation. This completes Fig. 24.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 24]
"Yes, everywhere that we see the sparkling candles or little electric lights, let us think of them as reflecting the light of the star of Bethlehem, to guide us to Him, just as the wise men were guided to that humble manger-cradle in Bethlehem. Many there are, we know, who make merry at Christmas, while shutting Jesus out of their lives.
They know not the blessing of the warmth of Christian love which He brought into the world, which is for them, if they will only accept it.
"But let us look at our own lives and see if we are reflecting the true spirit of Christmas. Some one has said that true Christmas _giving_ is true Christmas _living_--living not merely at Christmas time in fellowship with all, but throughout the year, with no difference in days excepting that with their succession we may grow more and more humble and faithful--more like Him."
SEEDTIME AND HARVEST --Sowing --Reaping
"Whatsoever a Man Soweth, That Shall He Also Reap."
THE LESSON--That the happiness or the unhappiness of middle life and old age are the result of the thoughts and deeds of early life.