Evening, October 26
Go To Morning Reading
“All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the
place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.”
Ecclesiastes 1:7
Everything sublunary is on the move, time knows nothing of rest. The
solid earth is a rolling ball, and the great sun himself a star obediently
fulfilling its course around some greater luminary. Tides move the
sea, winds stir the airy ocean, friction wears the rock: change and
death rule everywhere. The sea is not a miser’s storehouse for a wealth of waters, for as by one force the waters
flow into it, by another they are lifted from it. Men are born but
to die: everything is hurry, worry, and vexation of spirit. Friend
of the unchanging Jesus, what a joy it is to reflect upon thy changeless
heritage; thy sea of bliss which will be forever full, since God himself
shall pour eternal rivers of pleasure into it. We seek an abiding
city beyond the skies, and we shall not be disappointed. The passage
before us may well teach us gratitude. Father Ocean is a great receiver,
but he is a generous distributor. What the rivers bring him he returns
to the earth in the form of clouds and rain. That man is out of joint
with the universe who takes all but makes no return. To give to others
is but sowing seed for ourselves. He who is so good a steward as to
be willing to use his substance for his Lord, shall be entrusted with
more. Friend of Jesus, art thou rendering to him according to the
benefit received? Much has been given thee, what is thy fruit? Hast
thou done all? Canst thou not do more? To be selfish is to be wicked.
Suppose the ocean gave up none of its watery treasure, it would bring
ruin upon our race. God forbid that any of us should follow the ungenerous
and destructive policy of living unto ourselves. Jesus pleased not
himself. All fulness dwells in him, but of his fulness have all we
received. O for Jesus’ spirit, that henceforth we may live not unto ourselves!