Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-20

required of us, and would have excused
ourselves from strict adherence to re-
lig4ous requirements. We might even
some of us have blamed God that we
could not be the model Christians we had
heretofore expected of ourselves. How
many of us in the position of slave
among people who did not honor our re-
ligion would set about doing the very best
as a slave that a soul was capable of do
ing? How many would so live that his
success ana popularity would be openly
laid at the door of his religion, and the
honor of his life given to God? For that
was the secret Of JoSeph's success. He
set about doing the very best that he
could in the place where God had let him
be placed. even though that place was
lowly and there seemed no hope of any
rising. Straightway he walked into the
favor of his master, just as every one else
will do who takes his masters interests
and makes them his own and does the
best he can, always making God the real
master, and doing the work las unto the
Lord and not unto men. Then by and by
when he got into trouble with Potiphars
evil wife he did not lose his nobility and
tremble with fear lest he would be cast
into prison, or lose his place of honor in
the household. or some evil thing come
upon him, and SO set about trying to pla-
cate the woman and make compromise
with sin. He was just as straight and
true as ever, and fed from the evil. If
we remember that Joseph lived in the
companionship Of God-'the Lord was
with Joseph"-then 1t does not seem so
strange after all.
Our lesson from this story is obvious
It does not matter in the least about cir
cumstances. You may be the senior part
ner in a great firm. or you may be but
a poor clerk on a small salary In a tiny
obscure store somewhere on back street.
but If you are faithful and true you will
finally win a better place both in God s
10Th n world
all. it is all Gods work, and ii matters lit
tie whether He needs just you and me in
the place of an overseer over some Poi-
pharS house, or governor in prison
with honorable ignominy upon US. or as
raised high over a kings household. 1t
all needs to be done. and God knows best
Just where He needs us. 1t is not for you
to pout at the place or the work. but to
be faithful in it. and He will surely bring
glory out OF 1t.
Never says: Let 1t be granted that
you are a person Of ordinary ability. 1t
is likely as not that you will never be re-
moved into a wider sphere than the OBJ
scure one in which you have been pining
like a wood-brd in a cage. Give up your
useless regret, your querulous complaint.
and begin to meet the call of trivial COM
monpiace. with tenderness to each person
you encounter, with faith in God. as do
ing His best for you. with heroic courage
and answering fidelity. with patience.
thoroughness. submission. Go on acting
thus, week in and week out, year by year
with no thought of human notice. deter
mined always to be at your best. ca ger
only to pay out without stint. the gold
of a noble. unselfish heart At the end
of life. though you visit not that your
face glistens, others will see GU shining
like the sun in your Heavenly Fathers
kingdom. 1t will be discovered that you
have unwittingly lived a great life. and
you will be greeted on the threshold of
heaven with the We'll done of your
Lord"
This above alto thine own self be
true, and il must follow. the night the
day, thou canst not then be false to any
man. SHAKESPEARE.
This truth comes to us more and more
the longer we live, that on what field, or