It was while Moses was at his common task that the call came
to him. This wilderness training was simply a third school
which he entered to fit him for the great work of his life.
When God wants a man he usually calls one who is busy among
the commonplace things of life. Commonplace duties are always
glorified in God’s sight. When God wanted a prophet he selected
Amos from among the farmer-shepherds. When He wanted a poet
He called a lad from keeping sheep. When He wanted an apostle
He called a swearing tar from mending his net on the beach of
Galilee. When He wanted a missionary He selected a Paul from
among the tent-makers. When He wanted a deliverer of Israel He
called a man from the commonplace duties of the desert. When God
wanted to show man how much He loved him and honored toil, He
chose to incarnate Himself in the carpenter of Nazareth.
“This is the gospel of labor,
Ring it ye bells of the kirk;
The Lord of Love, came down from above,
To live with the men who work;
This is the rose He planted,
Here is the thorn-curst soil,
Heaven is blest, with perfect rest,
But the blessing of earth is toil.”
(Text.)
(3496)
* * * * *
Paul was not ashamed to work with his hands, altho he had been
brought up at the feet of Gamaliel and taught according to the
perfect manner of the law. He had not forgotten the custom of
the Jews, who always taught their sons in early youth to work at
some trade or handicraft. A true saying is that “an idle brain
is the devil’s workshop.” Miss Dryer, a Chicago missionary, in
addressing the ministers’ meeting of that city in behalf of
girls’ sewing-schools, made the significant statement that in
all her experience of many years she had never known of a fallen
woman who knew how to sew. (Text.)
(3497)
* * * * *
Man’s work is to labor and leaven
As best he may--earth here with heaven,
’Tis work for work’s sake that he’s needing;
Let him work on and on as speeding
Work’s end, but not dream of succeeding!
Because if success were intended,
Why, heaven would begin ere earth ended.
--BROWNING.
(3498)
See GENIUS AND WORK.
=Work a Necessity=--See INDUSTRY AND LONGEVITY.