That God should adjust a universe so that all of its forces and
energies should be at the instant disposal of those who, through
obedience to his laws, lay claim to them, should not seem strange
when we realize how perfectly we are now adjusting our mechanical and
social conditions to meet the hourly needs of the body. The water
supply of many of our large cities is pumped and propelled by what
is known as the Holly Engine. Its regulation is perfectly automatic.
Without any apparent cause, there is a constant change in the amount
of steam produced. The engineer busies himself by oiling the bearings
and polishing the shafts, but seems utterly indifferent to the pressure
of the steam as it relates itself to the varying demands of the great
city. The fact is that the engineer does not need to concern himself
with the regulating of the engine, for the people of the city regulate
it for themselves.
Whenever a faucet is opened the draft in the engine is correspondingly
opened, the fires burn brighter, the steam is increased, and the action
of the pumps instantly accelerated. The larger the quantity of water
needed, the wider the drafts, the stronger the fires, the greater the
pressure of steam, the more active the huge pumps that labor to meet
the increased demand. Quickly close the faucets, stop the outlet of
water entirely, and the pumps will become inactive. So perfect is this
adjustment that the smallest child, many miles away, may change the
speed of the engine at will. It is designed to meet the needs of every
person in the city, whether it be but a cup of water to moisten the
fevered lips of a little child or great streams with which to fight the
mighty conflagrations that threaten the life of the city.
If man, out of common ore which he digs from the hills, can build
machinery to meet the varying need of his fellow man, should it seem
such an incredible thing that God, who made the human soul, could, out
of his unlimited, unmeasured spiritual forces, arrange to instantly
meet the need of every human soul? God can and God does. The fact is
that the whole universe is so arranged. There is not a need of the soul
of man that cannot be immediately satisfied, if one puts himself in
obedient touch with the fixed spiritual laws that control the required
forces, as, for the thirsty lips, we intelligently reach out, turn the
faucet, and draw the cup of water.
It is at this point that the learned individual who loudly praises
himself upon being a practical observer of life, takes most positive
exceptions and insists that the weakness of the Church is this very
insistence upon what, to him, seems the miraculous. He has not been
able to observe that the strength of the Church is her belief in the
laws governing prayer, compliance with which instantly brings all the
Infinite resources of the sky to meet and fully satisfy the needs of
the soul. The fault is not in God’s method of procedure, but in the
narrow prejudices which the critic mistakes for the laws of logic.
Let us consider the laws governing prayer as revealed in an old-time
incident.
Her eyes red with weeping, and her face deeply drawn with sorrow, a
lonely woman was pleading with Elisha for help. Out from dark shadows,
she was journeying toward deeper gloom. She had just buried her
husband, on the morrow she must journey to the auction block where her
two sons, her only means of support, were to be sold into slavery, to
meet the debts of her dead husband. She was helpless and heart-broken
in her poverty. “What shall I do for thee? What hast thou in the
house?” asked the solicitous prophet. “Thy handmaiden hath not anything
in the house save”--and she faltered--“save a pot of ointment.” All
her furniture and cooking utensils had been sold to help meet her
financial obligations. There was only one thing left, and that was the
jar of ointment which every Jewish person kept for the anointing of the
dead. This was never disposed of. Then came the command, “Borrow empty
vessels, and borrow not a few.”
The two boys were set to work. The novelty of the situation whetted
their curiosity and ambition and it was not long until the mother
announced that there were enough vessels and that the doors and windows
should be tightly closed. Then, with trembling fingers, she opened the
little jar and began to empty its contents into the larger vessels.
Three smiling faces bent over the open mouths of the jars, when, to
their wonderment, the little jar had filled every one of the larger
ones. Now there was no need of worry. The prayer had been answered. The
sale of the oil would more than meet all the demands of the creditors.
It was wonderful, but natural.
Prayer is answered only according to the law of continuity. There were
more than a thousand ways in which God could have come to the relief of
the widow. The prophet’s touch could have filled the empty vessels to
overflowing, as once a prophet’s touch melted granite rock into crystal
streams of water; his touch could have filled the hut with abounding
wealth; common dust might have gleamed as jewels; unexpected gifts
might have been poured forth as rain; but they did not. God meets the
emergencies of life through the law of continuity. The way of increase
is always yielding what we have to the workings of higher laws. The
small cruse held the secret of the overflowing jars. Hunger comes and
God asks, “What hast thou?” and the husbandman answers, “Thy servant
hath not anything save a handful of grain.” Then comes the command,
“Take it to the well-plowed field, and pour it out.” He does so, and
the field overflows with harvest. For the vine that man plants God
gives the purple clusters; for the seed he sows God gives a loaf of
bread. Like always produces like, and in prayer is followed the law
of increase. What you have saved from what you have already owned,
determines the nature of God’s answer to your petitions. If your heart
hungers for sympathy, take the cruse of sympathy and pour it into the
empty vessel of another’s life. The world yields no sympathy to the
unsympathetic, but never fails to return with increase each expression
of tender solicitude. If you pray for comforting power to heal an
old wound, take whatever power of comfort you possess, and begin to
minister to hearts that break. You will find increase that will fill
every empty vessel of your heart, and gladness shall take the place
of sorrow. If you are praying for financial aid, consecrate whatever
strength of brain and muscle you possess to hard, clean work, and the
return will richly recompense you. If you are asking God to make you
of service to the world, pour out your life into the empty ones about
you, and your petition will be granted. This is the law of spiritual
adjustment. Along the lines of your own individuality will God prepare
you for the larger task to-morrow.
We must also remember that the increase is determined, not by divine
limitations, but by our own capacity. The command to the widow
was, “Borrow empty vessels, and borrow _not a few_.” God placed no
limitations, but, rather, gave urgent command to plan for large things.
She could have borrowed a thousand empty vessels and a thousand vessels
would have been filled. Her blessing was determined the moment she said
to the boys who were securing the jars from the excited neighbors,
“That is enough, you need not borrow more.” That moment she determined
the amount of answer her prayers would receive. The oil ceased to flow
when she had reached the limit of her preparation. What a tremendous
truth! Our growth and spiritual attainments are unlimited so far as
God is concerned. The possibility of development is unlimited so far
as this world is concerned, for empty vessels and empty hearts are
everywhere. Our growth is limited only by the breadth of our sympathies
and the scope of our interests.
Borrow empty vessels, and _borrow not a few_. What a challenge to the
church of the living God! Begin to think and plan in big terms. “_Not
a few._” These are the words of One who thinks in numbers large enough
to include all the grains of sand in all the oceans and all the stars
of the universe. Count the forest leaves and the grass-blades and
raindrops, and then ask yourself what God means when he says “_not a
few_.” May the Christ of social service show the church of to-day that
her power is limited only by her vision of her opportunity.