1 Chronicles 22:13

"Handfuls of Purpose,"

For All Gleaners

"Be strong and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed." 1 Chronicles 22:13 .

We have read that Solomon was young and tender, young and timid; it would seem as if David, recognising the timidity of his son, specially charged him to cultivate courage, bravery, fearlessness. This was training up a child in the way he should go. We are too fond of training our strongest faculties, and thus we are tempted to neglect the weaker side of our nature. Find out the weak side of a child's character, and address yourselves assiduously to its cultivation. We should seek to fill the empty sack, not to overcrowd the full one. Bring into play the muscles that are most difficult to get at, and do not overtrain those which afford the fairest prospect of immediate results. Our most backward faculty must be exercised. When we complain of a weak memory, or a hesitant will, or a defective imagination, we should address ourselves to the cultivation of that which is in special need of culture. On the other hand, what man regards as of the nature of defect and lack, God may account as a special excellence, and even a peculiar qualification for a particular work. God did not want a man to go to temple building with the air of a warrior, with the port of a hero, with the aggressiveness of one who was about to storm a fortress. As Solomon advances to his sacred work with a timid air, with a modesty which hides his strength, we may see the qualities which God most appreciates. Throughout the whole of human history God has never hesitated to declare that a meek and a quiet spirit is in his sight of great price. Clothing himself with his eternity as with a vesture, and inhabiting infinity as a dwelling-place, he declares that he will look to the man who is of a humble and a contrite spirit, and who trembleth at his word. When did the Lord select some towering man to be his agent or instrument in critical periods of history? Who has not been amazed to see how God will take weak things with which to oppose things that are mighty, and even things that are not, to bring to nought things that are? When the Son of man came upon the earth, the most conspicuous thing, in the estimation of some observers, was his timidity, his meekness, his almost fear. For a time he ran away from the face of man, and in protracted solitude prepared himself for the few agonistic years of his ministry; he did not strive, nor cry, nor cause his voice to be lifted up in the streets; he was womanly, gentle, tender, patient, and he concealed his almightiness under his all-pitifulness. No mistakes are greater than those which are often made about strength. We forget that moderation is power. We neglect to admit the full meaning of the doctrine that in proportion as a man is really capable is he profoundly serene; if he were uncertain of his strength he would be turbulent, agitated, impatient, and through his foolish excitement we should discover his self-misgiving. Everywhere God's servants are called to fearlessness, to strength, to good courage. Jesus Christ called men in this direction; the Apostle Paul, speaking of every one who would be a faithful servant of the Cross, says, "Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."