Job 29:15

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"I was eyes to the blind." Job 29:15

This may lead us to consider the subject of self-multiplication. No man liveth unto himself. We hold all our faculties and properties, not for ourselves alone but for others also; in this respect we have all things in common. No man is at liberty to say, when there is a blind man to be helped, that his eyes are wholly his own, and that he must devote them to his own occupations and interests. In this way it lies within the power of every man to do good: without money, without genius, without influence, he can yet conduct a blind child across a thoroughfare, or speak a kind word to the dispirited traveller, or offer to do some deed of love to the friendless man. Beneficence does not confine itself to one line. Unhappily, in many instances, it is so confined, and thus it is in danger of falling into a mere trick or habit. Some men will give money largely who will not give any time to the promotion of good causes; others do not grudge their time, but it is next to impossible to persuade them to contribute of their substance. Each man will be judged according to his faculty and opportunity. All that some men can do is to lead the blind, cheer the lonely, advise the perplexed; these services to humanity are never set down in the subscription-lists of society; it would seem as if it was only money that could be recorded, and not service of a still richer kind. Many are sitting in darkness and desolation who do not need money; they need sympathy, counsel, encouragement. Let every man consider what his particular power of serving society is. We must not judge ourselves by one another, but must inquire into the gift which gives us individuality; that is the gift which is to be stirred up; that is the gift which indicates the line of our service. Some men have ten gifts, others two, others one, and each man must examine himself and work according to his particular endowment. Blessed are they who live in others. The blind who are helped ought not to forget the man who helped them. They should remember the touch of his kind hand, the cheerfulness of his generous voice, and by their thanks they should inspire him to continue his benevolent services to all who need them. The man who has the word of wisdom has the key of many a prison. Even services of the humblest kind should be rendered with tender grace, for thus their value may be doubled. Many persons never see the blind because they never look for them. There is other blindness than that of the eyes of the body blindness of mind, of conscience, and even of affection. What if a man should see well with his bodily eyes, but should blind the vision of his soul? What if the eyes of imagination should wander through eternity, feasting themselves upon the riches of the universe, if the eyes of conscience and responsibility and social trust should be put out, so that those who are round about us needing our help should escape our observation. Many persons are quick to see the faults of others, but blind to their own. Let us remember that sympathy, counsel, encouragement, prayer, religious exhortation, may all come under the designation of that large and generous service which gives eyes to the blind.