"Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord."--Col. in. 23.
In 2 Chron. xxxi. 21, we read of Hezekiah, that "in every work that he
began, he did it with all his heart, and prospered." And this morning's
"bell" rings a New Testament echo, "Do it heartily!" Sing it now, like a
little peal of bells!
[Music: Do it hear-ti-ly!]
See if that does not ring in your ears all day, and remind you that it is
not merely much pleasanter to be bright and brisk about everything, but
that it is actually one of God's commands written in His own word.
I know this is easier to some than to others. Perhaps it "comes natural"
to you to do everything heartily. That is very nice, but it is not enough.
What else? "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, _as unto the Lord_, and not
unto men." He knows whether the industrious energetic boy or girl is
wishing to please Him, and looking up to Him for His smile; or whether He
is forgotten all the while, and only the smile of others and the pleasure
of being quick and busy is thought of. But perhaps it is hard to you to do
things heartily. You like better to take your time, and so you dawdle, and
do things in an idle way, especially what you do not much like doing. Is
this right? Is it a little sin, when God's word says, "Whatsoever ye do,
do it heartily!" Is it not just as much disobeying God as breaking any
other command? Are you not _guilty_ before Him? Very likely you never
thought of it in this way, but there the words stand, and neither you nor
I can alter them. First ask Him to forgive you all the past idleness and
idle ways, for Christ's sake, and then ask Him to give you strength
henceforth to obey this word of His. And then listen to the little chime,
"Do it heartily! do it heartily!" And _then_ the last word of the verse
about Hezekiah will be true of you too--"Prospered!"
'Up and doing, little Christian!
Up and doing, while 'tis day!
Do the work the Master gives you.
Do not loiter by the way.
For we all have work before us,
You, dear child, as well as I;
Let us learn to seek our duty,
And to 'do it heartily.'