Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-10-22
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USE OF THINGS IN HAND.
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By Rev. Chas. A. S. Dwight.
And the Lord said unto him, What
Is that in thine hand? And he said,
A rod-Exodus w.: 2.
What is that in thine hand?' was
the question of the Lord to Moses in
the land of INDIAN. The answer was
rod, which, when thrown on the
ground, performed wonders, through
the SYMBOLISM of a miraculous quick
ening What is that in thine hand?
is a question which God puts to every
man to-day, though he may not live
and move in a desert, but in a crowd
ed mart, or in the quick-paced circles
of modern society. There is no one
who has not at least as much as
stick in his hand, and just rod may
do wonders when it is consecrated to
the divine service. The rod in Moses
hand stands for the faculty, native
or cultivated, which one possesses. IL
If he a rough stick hewn from the
brush, it symbolizes native endoW-
ments: If it be a jeweled hand, or
sharp-pointed javelin, it may connote
the attritions of culture or the powers
of dynamic learning-but whatever 1t
may be it must be consecrated value,
a possession cast down in proffered
surrender to Jehovah.
Religion demands the proper use OF
the things in ones hand. No one can
use what is merely theoretic or dream
full or imaginary, nor work with an
others powers There is no doing
duty by proxy; there Is no hiring OF a
substitute to go to lions war. Eacn
man must be present for duty, each
must answer to the roll call, each man
must wear his own armor, fend with
his own shield, and strike with his
own sword. Let every man then look
well to his armor and equipment, for
his comrades spear will not win him
laurels, nor his fellows shield perhaps
avail to protect him in the hour OF
warfare.
When Moses found himself c1rcum-
scribed in his activities in the land OF
indian the Lord sent him in due time
a commission for wider service, but
Moses had first to be taught, by an
object lesson, that the power or effect
i've service was from God, not from
man, while yet it employs the powers
of men. By his own rod from the
brush Moses could not strike a blow
at Pharaoh which would hurl him
from his throne, while yet he was to
learn that God might take the staff In
his hand to be as an Irresistible
sceptre of sovereignty. To-day God
works for us while He works through
us. The basis of His working, so to
speak, is in the human faculty, though
it is far more than that faculty. While
magnifying the divine force due de-
gard should be paid to the human fac
tor. To every good man God supplies
certain powers on trust, from which
He will demand a return. God is "aus-
tere" or strict, requiring an account
ing. What is that in thine hand?
What are you going to do with 1T?
Are you using it faithfully and Of
fective1y, until you get better thing
to handle? These are pressing ques-
lions, for which sufficient answer
must be returned to the Lord OF all
spirits
The use Of the things in ones hand,
If intel1igently pursued, will In the end
lead to the acquisition of greater pow
ers of action. When God sees that
man is making a good use Of rough
rod He may give after while a pol
ished staff and later still perhaps a
sceptre. Muscles strengthen by exer-
else, and powers grow by use; prac-
tice makes perfect, as industry gives
expertness To him that hath shall be
given, and he who is faithful In that
which is least shall be honored by
grander opportunities which grow out
Of the much and the many God Is a
strict accountant, but not hard task.
master and, while He demands the
unsparing, unfailing use of the things
In the hand, will multiply in due time
the faculties which are actuated by
faith, and the blessings which are now
a hope