Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-05-17
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR


BEGINNING May Il, 1917.
Tont.-Growfng into larger worn.-Mark
sv S-sa Union meeting with the juniors
and intermediates.l Edited by Rev. Sher-
man II Doyle. D. D.
II should be the aim of every Chris
tan organization to increase and 10
extend its work. The parallels OF
Christ. which have been selected for
our study. not only point out the meth
DDS by which growth in Christian work
is made possible. but also emphasize
the fact that growth is the law OF the
kingdom of God and that it Is 10 eS-
pand until the kingdoms or TINS worlu
shall have become a part of the king
dom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. As members of Christian Or
ganization which has been especially
successful in advancing the Kingdom
of Christ by its definite and enthusias-
tic work 1t should ever be our aim and
endeavor to do our part in bringing
about this glorious contamination. Let
us therefore study the laws OF growth
in Christian work and be encouraged
TO do more for the advancement OF
Christ's kingdom.
/. Growth in Christian work depends
upon divine power. II is true that we
have the high honor of being "cola5or-
ers with Cod yet nothing that we
alone can do will ever advance His
kingdom. The man in the parable
planted the seed. but be had no power
to make it grow. Its vitality was in
dependent of any labor that he might
have performed. He plants 1t and then
pursues his ordinary business-sleeps
by night and rises by day. engages in
other employments-yet the seed grows
by the power Of God working through
the force of nature. As in the natural
SO in the spiritual world. 1t is mot by
might nor by power. but by Ny spirit.
saith the Lord of Hosts" Paul may
plant and Apollos water. but God alone
can give the increase. In our endeav-
ors to advance our work let us keep
this fact In mind. Let Us faithfully do
our part. yet humbly and prayerfuliy
depend upon God for His blessing In
crowning our labors with success.
2. Growth In Christian work is grad
ual and progressive. THE earth bring
eth forth fruit OF herself; first the
blade, then the ear. after that the full
corn in the ear" This is the law of the
natural world. and 1t is also true Of
spiritual things. Nor does this law
ever vary. The fruit never comes first.
the blade last But there is too often
q tendency to expect a reversal Of this
law in the spiritual world. How often
we become discouraged because the
harvest does not appear as soon as we
had hoped and expected. But God does
everything as it should be done. and to
everything there is its season. Let US
therefore be patient. even II the re-
suits Of our labors are not speedily
manifested. The harvest will come,
and we shall reap In due season. in
Gods season. II we faint not
3. Growth is possible from small be-
ginnings. This is the truth Of the
parable Of the mustard seed. "A grain
of mustard seed was common ex-
preston among the rabbis for any
thing exceedingly small. Yet 1T grow
9th up and bepometh greater than all
herbs and shooteth out great branches,
80 that the fowls Of the air may lodge
under the shadow OF it" No Christian
work Is 80 small but that under the
blessing of God 1t may not become
larger, nor can we tell what great
things may develop from the smallest
beginnings. The Christian church had
small beginning. So had its most
powerful organizations But from these
small beginnings worldwide blessings
and benefits have resulted. God seems
to find delight in producing great re-
suits from small beginnings This fact
should encourage and inspire US all as
Christian workers. What we are able
to do may seem small and insignif-
cant. but the results from these efforts
may be very great. Let us not despise
the day Of small things. Let us not
make light Of triles. "Trifes make
perfection. and perfection is no tribe. I"
God can make much out of little.