The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-03-11
CHRISTIAN ENpEAVoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BEGINNING March 20.

II
BEGINNING March 20.
Topic.-Little things that Christ makes
great.-I Cor. i,&25-e9 ~ A%$> s
On one occasion during the Centennial
exposition of 1876 at Philadelphia sud-
denly the machinery Of the great exhi-
bition stopped The wonderful Corliss
engine that furnished the power for all
the various departments was exam
ined, and it was found that one of its
smallest parts was disarranged, and
yet it brought everything in the expo
sition to complete standstill Thus
we are taught that the day of small
things is not to be despised. In nature
and in human history God constantly
emphasizes the fact that little things
can become great and are of great I'M
portance An acorn becomes giant
oak. The constant falling water wears
away the stone and makes the mighty
Niagara falls. The falling of an apple
led to the discovery of the law. of
gravitation, the spiders web across a
pathway suggested the suspension
bridge, and the escaping steam from
boiling kettle furnished the idea of the
application of steam as q power in the
Industrial world. What wonderful re-
suits from such feeble beginnings! Yet
the hand of God was in 1t, and from it
all we can learn that God can make lit
tie things great.
The history of the Christian church
proves the ability of God in Christ to
make greatness from littleness. Gideon
with 300 men overcame a great army
of the Midianites. David with a sling
and pebble conquered the Philistian
giant and led to Israel's great vic
tory over the ancient enemy. In the
early history of the Christian church
the same fact is richly illustrated. Not
many men wise in human wisdom, not
many men occupying exalted positions,
not many men of distinguished family
history were called to establish Christs
kingdom. Instead, Christ called hum
BILE, unknown unread fishermen and
tradesmen that the world might know
that Christianity was divinely and not
humanity established-"that no flesh
should glory in His presence"
The church and Christian people Of
ten need to recall the fact that God and
Christ can make small things great.
Cicero says that the Corinthians were
famous not only for their luxurious
ness, but also for their wealth and
philosophic culture" The Corinthians
therefore needed this lesson. They
may have been inclined to trust too
much in the wisdom, luxury, wealth
and culture of men rather than in
Christ, and hence Paul tells them that
these things are nothing to God and
that His method Is to use fooliShness
rather than wisdom, men of low degree
rather than men of high degree, the
base things, the despised things, Of the
world, and yet out Of them to make
great men and great things, because
tends to pander to worldly wisdom,
wealth and culture. The wise are hon.
cred overmuch. The rich too often
lord 1t over the church simply because
Of their riches. and culture 10 given
= larger place In the church than SIM
pie and humble piety. Individual Chris
tians also need to be reminded Of this
lesson. There are many unused talents
in cur churches because they are not
great talents. many little deeds undone
because they are not great deeds, many
helpful words unspoken because they
cannot be eloQuentiy spoken. Christ
can make little things great--the little
word, the little deed. the little talent
Therefore conseerate It to Him and let
Him use it for His glory, and not only
will 1t rebound to His honor and glory,
but also to your own good. for not even
q cup Of cold water given In His name
10 without its reward. Therefore de-
spise not the day Of small things, for
Christ can make the little things great
BIBLE READINGS.
lisa. xviii, 9-l3; Ps. xix, IA; Zech. iv,
ia; Matt. K, AZ; xii, SO; XIV, 1880;
XVI, Glib; Mark iv, 1892; xii, Ala;
John vi. lib; JAS. iii, 1-6.