ix. 10. _The bricks are fallen down, &c._
Jesus said, "The children of this world are in their generation wiser
than the children of light," meaning that they excel them in
shrewdness and tact. Men of the world do not readily submit to defeat
and failure, but strive to convert defeat into victory, and failure
into success. In this respect, therefore, the children of this world
are worthy of imitation. Within the spiritual, Christian sphere we
might well emulate them in the determined, hopeful, persevering,
progressive, patient spirit with which they prosecute their affairs.
Of this the text affords illustration. The children of this world, of
whom it speaks to us, are worthy of our imitation in the following
respects:--
+I. They proceed with a defined purpose.+ The bricks mentioned as
having fallen down were not a heap of burned clay, which somehow had
got piled up, no one could tell how. They had been built by human
hands, and the builders had heads as well as hands. But now that the
bricks had fallen, in making up their minds as to what should be
done, they proceed with a defined purpose. The architect precedes the
builder; the head leads the hand. They build not at random. They
first say what they will build, and how. They also resolve once more
to beautify their surroundings with trees, and they make their
choice. This time they will not have sycamores, but cedars.
The same principle should underlie the building up of all Christian
character and work. Knowledge and zeal should ever be in partnership.
The hand should be under control of the head. Everything should be
done well, because done wisely. One purpose should run through and be
supreme in each life. Striving, and toiling, and fighting, we should
have it first settled what we are to strive, and toil, and fight for.
And as to this we are left in no difficulty. A plan is made for us,
and our wisdom is to work it out. A number of young men were one day
practising archery, when the arrows of one invariably stuck in the
ground. Seeing this, one of his companions cried out, "Do aim
higher." That is what we have to do. We substitute our own low,
faltering purposes for the high, glorious purpose of God (Rom.
viii. 29; 1 Pet. ii. 21). So, also, in connection with our work, a
high purpose should be our aim. We should not make up our minds to do
as little as possible, neither should our only object be to do as
much as possible. Our question should be, What is my Master's will?
Obedience is better than sacrifice. They who would work for their
Lord with acceptance must wait on Him, and He will give "to each man
his work." Further, with our plan fixed, we must set our whole heart
upon the working of it out. Here Israel teaches us. When her first
effort failed, she tried again. The spirit of enthusiasm must inspire
us. This is what makes labour rest, and turns the yoke into a crown.
+II. They were inspired with hopefulness.+ Their bricks fell down,
but their spirits fell not into the pit of despair. Their sycamores
were cut down, but their ambition was not. They viewed the desolation
not without sadness, but in the midst of it all _"Nil Desperandum"_
was the song which they sang. And that is the spirit of the world
to-day. So the Christian ought to be hopeful. You have fallen! Say,
"I will rise again." Your schemes have failed! Say, "I will try
again." You are afraid you have laboured in vain! Say, "In labours I
will be more abundant." You went into what you thought the paradise
of God, but lo! it turned out to be a dreary wilderness. What then?
Still hope in God. Seek on, O seeker, and thou shalt find. Knock on,
louder and louder; the door will be opened.
Night must give way to day. Mystery after mystery will unfold itself.
Light will appear to every man having eyes and using them. The
children of this world hope; greater reason have they to hope who are
children of God.
+III. They show a spirit of industrious perseverance.+ Their hands
responded to the impulse of their hearts. What they were ready to say
they were ready to do. They were prepared by hard, persevering toil
to make good their hope. These men of Israel were at this time
without God, but they were not without common sense. They dreamed not
that by mere wishing their ruined walls would rise again. If they
wanted new temples and goodly cedars, they must build and plant them.
The moral here is plan (Matt. vii. 21). Hoping will not do
everything. It must be backed by earnest effort. The way to heaven is
not reached by flying, but by toiling. I am a son of God; let me then
subscribe myself "Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ." Beautiful city
of God! we hope some day to reach thy gates of pearl and enter it,
but till then--
"Many a sorrow, many a labour,
Many a tear."
To your hope add diligence. Watch and wait, but forget not to work.
+IV. They improve matters.+ These tumble-down buildings were, after
all, but brick; but now they would build, not with bricks, but with
hewn stones. Around them had flourished sycamores, but now that these
were cut down they would plant cedars. Such is the spirit of the
world. To-day is to be an improvement upon yesterday. _"Excelsior"_
is added to _"Nil Desperandum."_ Is not this the spirit which ought
to animate us? There is no temper but may be improved. You never did
a thing for Jesus, let it be ever so trifling, but you may do better
next time you try. The text speaks to us of failure and ruin; and it
shows us that out of these greater and better efforts arose. So
should it be with us. Has your faith given way under the severe
strain put upon it? Then for the future you must not only have faith,
but stronger faith. In the pride and stoutness of their hearts Israel
said, "In the future we will do better than we did before;" and we
must say, not in the pride of our hearts, but in humble dependence
upon God, strengthened with His might, "We count not ourselves to
have attained, neither are we already perfect; but this one thing we
do," (Phil. iii. 13, 14).
CONCLUSION.--Looking at what Israel proposed to do, three words are
suggested, which would be good motto words for us to adopt. They are
_strength, beauty, growth._ 1. "We will build with stones." They
would now erect a strong building, one not easily to be overthrown.
This should be our first concern. We are building not for time, but
for eternity. What is to last must be strong. 2. They said, moreover,
"We will build with hewn stones;" we shall go in for beauty as well
as for strength. Some of us are strong, but we are lacking in beauty.
We are robust characters, but we are also rough. There is a more
excellent way. Perfection of character is reached only in so far as
strength and beauty are blended together. 3. There must also be
growth. Israel resolved to plant cedars, trees which should live and
grow on for centuries. So we, rooted and grounded in faith, and love,
and hope, should grow up in strength and beauty. So, on and
on--changing bricks for hewn stones, and sycamores for cedars.--_Adam
Scott: Christian World Pulpit,_ vol. xvii. pp. 230-232.