The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25

win now many, L wonder. among the
thousands who receive this ministry of the
press" does this familiar text find full ac-
ceptance? How many are ready to indorse
1t as striking responsive chord in their
own experience?
1t is a principle or truth which, like many
| another, seems at first glance of doubtful
warrant and without exempHfcation in
every day life. But let us see
In the first place, it is not said that it is
blessed to give more than one receives, or
even much as one receives either one
is for most people impossible. Neither is it
said that it is blessed to give but cursed to
| receive; for receiving is as necessary as
giving, and a necessary element of life is
not under a ban. The statement is, that
receiving and giving are both blessed. each
in its way, only the latter is more blessed
than the former.
1t is a great mistake to limit these words
to money matters, as is often done. They
do indeed apply with great force to affairs
in which money is the element given or re-
ceived. st. Paul used them impressvely in
| that sense, but he quoted them as a gem
eral principle Of our Lord and applicable to
life in larger way.
How completely is our life made up OF
giving and receiving! The beautiful part
of it is that giving and receiving service
make the most and the best part Of life
The laborer gives his service directly for
wages. and he uses the wages to procure
food, clothing and shelter for his family
AT the store he seems to be bartering SIM
ply cash for goods, but really he is giving
his service for those goods; the money is
only modern device of convenience which
may obscure the truth. He gives a service
and a he
must do more than merely hand over his
goods for money, if he be a true merchant
at all. lie must render a service as well.
He places his expert judgment of goods, his
experience, his credit, all at the service of
| his humblest customer So it goes all
through the various spheres Of life. Real
living consists of giving and receiving serv-
ice The exceptions are not many and not
so real they seem The millionaires son
who lives on the interest of money won,
perhaps, by gambling, renders a service,
too, in his way, even if against his will.
He cannot get his per cent. without put
ting his money to the bankers and we can
always hope that it may render better serv-
ice than its owner.
I suppose the total amount of giving is
and always must be equal to the total
amount of receiving. There are no more
DeduIlIul laws IN the realm OF science imam
those of the conservation of matter and of
energy. We can use matter and force in
countless ways, now boarding up, now
spending wisely or extravagantly, but We
can neither increase nor decrease the
amount; we can use but we can neither
create nor destroy. The ocean receives the
in-fowing of all the mighty rivers of the
globe, but its vapor gives it all back again.
we see the sun drawing water and later
comes the rain.
See the rivers flowing downward to the
sea,
All their treasure pouring, bountiful and
Yet to help their giving, hidden springs
And abundant showers feed them from the
skies"
Now, the law of the conservation of
service differs from these other laws in
that it is not the total amount that is in
variable, but that the amount given must
always be equal to the amount received.
One individual may give more than he re-
ceives another may receive more than he
gives but the total amount OF giving is
always equal to the total amount of re-
ceiving
Every person must both give and receive.
Wherein does he find his chief blessedness.
his highest satisfaction? In every walk OF
life there are true men whose greatest joy
is that they are giving, in everything they
do. Look at the humblest laborer in the
most lowly toll. If he is true man he Is
glad that he can give a good, honest days
work for God and his well-earned wages.
and Herewith to bless those dependent on
him. Even If his pay is not as much as
he could wish, much it ought to
be. still this man will do his part well.
knowing that every stoutest stroke Of work
baIN %Ia aIp u &c fDtn cd
wise plan for human progress.
Or look at one of the most exalted kinds
of service, that of the medical profession.
What joy many a noble man takes in try
ing to be a follower of the Great Physician
who went about doing good" He is as
glad as anybody else to get fat check
for his fee, and he has a right to be, and
he will do as much good with it as any,
body else. But with what enthusiasm he
works over little lame child to set him
on his feet, and when he sees those little
feet flying fast in the sportive gambols of
a. merry group, the kind Doctors heart
throbs with its sympathetic joy. He is the
happiest Of them all. Better than gold he
counts the privilege of relieving human
need.
Ordinarily, 1t may be, the chief spur to
effort is the hope of pay, but over and
dbONe THAT III dil Ti5uL minus Is the JOY or
helping.
Many do not think so perhaps; but the
question is not, after all, what men re-
gard as the most blessed thing in life, but
what actually is. In the next we have oEr
Lords statement Of ultimate fact, and IL
will enable US to account for the unblessed-
ness of many lives. The only possibility OF
a really happy life lies in seeing that every
human being mas q vocation; that God calls
men to be blacksmiths and carpenters and
bod carriers, lawyers and brokers, just
as truly as to be philanthropists and apos-
ties. To feel that one has a vocation or
calling" is simply to see that the JOY OF
life is in following the call. in rendering a
service, in giving, rather than in receiving
the ministrations of others.
There is one sphere of life in which 1t
is easy for US to see the truth of this noble
principle. 1t is delightful for any one TO
feel that he is the object of love, whether
by friend, or parent. wife. or husband.
or child Dayid's soul naturally stirred
within him as he sang of his friend Jona-
than: Thy love to me was wonderful,
passing the love Of women" Yet one who
knows love from this side only, does rot
I : II