^ That He had always been governed by love without selfish views ; and that having resolved to make the love of God the end of all his actions, he had found good reason to be well satisfied with his method. That he was pleased, when he could take up a straw from the ground for the love of God, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His gifts.*
2. Three practical lessons arise.
(1) A lesson of duty. — We are so tempted to say, "Had we only great opportunities of service, were we only free from these passing cares, we would dedicate our lives to God." Meanwhile
^ H. Elvet Lewis. ' D. Famcomb, Tlie Vision of Eis Face, 70.
* Brother Ijawrence, The Practice of the Presence of Ood, 8.
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this wonderful life is passing, never to return, and nothing is done. Every man may be spiritually heroic. Beneath every trouble or disappointment, small and insignificant as they may seem, lies God's opportunity.
^ Believe that the work you are appointed to do is God's work, and you will always find scope for the heavenly spirit, and for living out the principle which Christ indicated when He pointed to the widow's mite. It is true that this makes life a very difficult thing, — it is supremely hard to live to God in small things. But forget not that He who saw the widow's offering sees you, and He who guides the stars binds up the broken heart.^
^ There is a great deal in the Bible about things we might be inclined to call "trifles." I think God wants to remind us at every turn that He is carefully taking note of all the little details of life. Nearly two thousand years ago a man was doing a lowly act of service — just carrying a pitcher of water into a house in Jerusalem. How little he thought, as he walked along the street, that this trifling everyday action would never be forgotten. How little he imagined that God was weaving him and his pitcher into the most wonderful story the world has ever known. Two of the Evangelists mention that man, who was doing a servant's work, just before the greatest of the Jewish Passovers was kept, as if they wished to impress us with God's attention to common things. They may seem trifling to us, but nothing is trifling to Him.'
^ Jesus hath many lovers of His Heavenly Kingdom, but few bearers of His cross. He hath many desirous of consolation, but few of tribulation. All desire to rejoice with Him ; few are willing to endure anything for Him or with Him. But they who love Jesus for the sake of Jesus, and not for some special comfort of their own, bless Him in all tribulation and anguish of heart, as well as in the state of highest comfort.'
^ That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, for He regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.*
(2) A lesson of encouragement — Live to God in all things — consider no sacrifice too great or too small — do your best in everything as in His sight, and you will find Him everywhere. " The trivial round, the common task," will be glorified with a
1 E. L. Hull » D. Farncomb, The Vision of Hia Face, 89.
* Thomas k Kerapis.
* Brother Lawrence, The PractAce of the Presence of God, 22.
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heavenly spirit, and the great stones in God's temple of the world will shine with the radiance of Divinity. Thus you will be revealing the Divine life to the world. Men and women consecrated to God in all things are the living temples of the Lord, through which His presence is manifested. Ask not, " Where is my work in the battle of the ages ? " It is there, close to your side, if " whatsoever your hand finds to do, you do it with your might."
^ " He called unto him his disciples." Why did He not call the widow also ? His " well done " would have transfigured her whole life. Christ values the deed, and the soul that shines through it, too highly to spoil them by praising too soon. He keeps His " well done " till we are fit to hear it. Who can tell the patience of His love ? the self-restraint of His sympathy ? There must be many a weary servant of His, with disappointed hands and bleeding heart, who almost wins Him to divulge, too soon, the healing secret of " that great day," but He is wise, and longsuffering, hushing the whispers of heaven lest they reach our ears too soon. He let her return into the shadow of her lonely life and win her obscure victories in the strength of her own soul ; some morning, when the angels hear, He will say — " I saw it." And she will only bow her head lower, in adoring wonder. The soldier must come home for his medal ; the worker must wait till evening for his wages. What He gives now is a sense of peace within, a feeling of victory over self.^