1 Chronicles 9:13

"Handfuls of Purpose,"

For All Gleaners

"... very able men for the work of the service of the house of God." 1 Chronicles 9:13 .

Religious ability is marked by its own peculiarity. Men are able in various directions and in various senses. A man may be a brilliant musician, but a useless ploughman; or he may be great as a ploughman, and utterly useless in the matter of exposition and eloquence. There is a religious genius, a faculty which knows what Israel ought to do, which notes all circumstances and combinations of circumstances, and knows exactly when the blow should be delivered; there is a genius which knows when to halt, when to move, when to lift the voice into a commanding tone, and when to whisper as if afraid to add pain to the soreness of the heart. We are not called to ecclesiastical statesmanship in this verse; we are called to the kind of work which we can do best. There are very able doorkeepers, as well as very able preachers; there are very able administrators, as well as very able expositors: the one cannot do without the other, they are members one of another, and together they constitute the complete body of Christ. What a gift some men have for the fascination and instruction of young minds! Children know them, and hail them, and love them, giving their little hearts to them with all confidence and thankfulness. Other men cannot teach the children, but they can address men and women in terms that stir the heart and rouse the energy to its highest endeavours. What we do want in the house of God is ability, that is to say, faculty that can utilise all other men, penetrate into the meaning of all passing events, and tell exactly when work is to be done, and when it is not to be attempted. Many are willing who are not able; many are able in nine particulars, but fail in the tenth. Sometimes a whole number of talents is thrust away because of one talent, the talent of using the others is wanting. We have heard of some men who had not the talent to know how to use their talents. So there is continually going on great waste in society, and great waste in the Church. We should call attention to the waste, because in so doing we may be beginning a process remedial. Probably every man is more or less open to this charge of impairing his own ability. His vanity defeats his power; his love of praise throws a doubt upon the genuineness of his prayers; his infirmity is magnified above his ability. Here is another ground on which may be conducted with highest use the process of self-examination. Men should not be discouraged because of their one point of weakness, but being warned of it they should address themselves to its fortification.