Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-09-03
THE oNE-TALENT MAN.

By Rev. Junius B. Remensnyder.
And unto one He gave five talents,
to another two and to another one;
ability.-Matthew XIV. TO-
This parable treats of the self-evi-
dent diversity in the natural gifts of
men. Some are two, five, or even ten
talented. They are quick, clever, re-
sourceful. This power is a gift The
child Is born with or without it. No
power can create it in the man lack
ing it.
What power for good is such a
richly gifted personality! Yet to how
many have these brilliant parts proven
not an opportunity, but temptation,
a foil and snare. The saddest chap
ter of literature is the career of the
sons of genius.
Over against these exceptionally
gifted souls our parable presents the
one-talent man. He is dull, slow,
grudgingly endowed What he gets
must be by toll of brain and sweat of
brow. These inequalities seem to be
part Of Gods plan, and are no doubt
meant for wise purpose, just as
mountains and plains enhance the
beauty and promote the life and fruit
fulness of nature AS a level earth
would mean a sand desert, so social
ism-a dead level of conditions -
would mean social stagnation.
Nevertheless, the one-talent man
feels sorely his disadvantage, and is
tempted, as in the parable, to COM
plain and churlishly sit down and at
tempt nothing This tendency the
great teacher here means to reprove.
He shows that God rewards men not
in proportion to their gifts, but to the
use they make of them. To the one
who doubles his one talent the very
same power is given as to the one who
multiplies his ten talents.
We'll done, thou good and faithful
servant; thou hast been faithful over
a few things; l will make thee ruler
over many things"
The duty of the person not brilliant
ly gifted Is to work his one talent to
the highest point of efficiency And
the pains he requires to advance be-
comes a discipline often more valu-
able by far than quick natural parts.
How often thus the gifted scholar,
shared by his very facility, sees him
self left behind by the plodding but
trained and applying pupil. And the
same fact is illustrated in business
and in every sphere of life.
This parable concerns the great ma
jority of US. The one-talented many
are really of far more Importance than
the few of genius For it is by means
of the great company of mediocre
minds that the chief work and happi,
| ness of the world must be maintained
This seems very certain" wrote
Phillips Brooks, that the world is to
grow better and richer in the future;
not by the magnificent achievements
of the highly gifted few, but by tho
patient faithfulness of the one-talent
ed many"
It is by common men and women
realizing the Importance of common
and lowly tasks that the welfare o.
every home and the general well be;
ing of mankind are to be promoted
And, none the less, is it by these that
Gods wise and blessed purposes to the
race are to be completed.
Let us, then, bear in mind that use
fulness, success, happiness and the di,
vine blessing depend not upon our tai;
ents, many or few, brilliant or dull,
but upon our wise, patient, earnest use
of such capacities as we have.
The race Is not to the swift or the
battle to the strong" but to the faith
full and deserving.
1t is those who have had an infe
riority of natural powers and who, in
spite of disadvantages, have made
themselves a help and a blessing who
deserve best of the race and shall
shine the brightest in the kingdom of
heaven.