The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-10
9bort gsrntons
For
Sumnap Dalf-Dour
Theme:
ONE-TALENT MAN,
r r r
BY Rev. Junius B. Remensnyder.

BY Rev. Junius B. Remensnyder.
r + +
Text: "And unto one he gave five
talents, to another two, and to another
one; to every man according to his
several abIllty."-Matthew, XIV, 10.
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This parable treats of the self-evi.
dent diversity in the natural gifts of
men. Some are two Ave, or even ten
talented. They are quick, clever, re-
sourceful. This power is a gift. The
child is born with or without 1t. No
power can create 1t in the man lack.
ing It.
What q power for good is such q
richly gifted personality! Yet to how
many have these brilliant parts prov.
en- not an opportunity, but a tempta-
tion, foil and snare. The saddest
chapter 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
fruitfulness of nature. AS a level
earth would mean sand desert, so
socialism-a dead level of conditions
would mean social stagnation.
Nevertheless the one.talent man
often feels sorely his disadvantage,
and Is tempted, as in the parable, to
complain and churlishly sit down and
attempt 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. well
done, thou good and faithful servant;
thou hast been faithful over a few
things; I 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-
| come discipline often more valua-
BILE 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
majority Of US. The one-talented many
are really of far more Importance
than the few of genius. For 1t is by
means of the great company Of medi-
ocre minds that the chief work and
happiness Of the world must be main
tanned. "It seems very certain, y
wrote Phillips Brooks, that the world
is to grow better and richer in the
future. not by the magnificent achieve
| ments Of the highly gifted few. but
by the patient faithfulness of the one
talented many" It Is by common men
and women realizing the Importance
| VI COlhhlOh anu ASVAy Soo1o SAess SAAS
welfare Of every home and the gen.
eral we'll being Of mankind are to be
promoted. And none the less Is 1t by
these that Gods wise and blessed pur.
! poses to the race are to be completed
Let US, then, bear in mind that use
fulness, success, happiness and the
divine blessing depend not upon our
talents, many or few, brilliant or dull
but upon our wise, patient, earnest
use of such capacities as we have
1.-THE race is not to the swift or the
battle to the strong" but to the faith
full and deserving.
It is those who have had inferiority
of natural powers and who, In spite
of Disadvantages, have made them
selves a help and blessing who de-
serve best Of the race and shall shine
the brightest in the kingdom Of heav