The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-09
Being Faithful in Little
Things
Sermon hy
REV. FLOYD w. TOMktNS.

and our acceptance OF new ideas that
ve arc always looking for big things
and neglccting little things. We live
ia ah rs>7 ~ wonders, when great dts
corer,es and inventions hold us Every
day brings some new thing. aud like
the Athenians 6Acts xvii. 2D. VIC grow
accustomed to look for and rejoice in
surprises. Hence We neglect the little
opportunities and the little courtesies.
or else slight them. II is a mistake
Faithfuncss in that which is least fits
MS 10 DO faithful in great affairs. And
;idclitN to tho present demands gives
strength for the future experiences. I
have always loved the tenderness of
the wisdom of Gods message in Jcre-
miah Xii. < IF thou has run with the
footmer. and they have wcnricd thee
then now nDst thou contend with
horses" And II in the land of pea q
wherein thou trustedst. they wearicd
thee. then how wilt thou do IN the
swelling OF Jordan The boy learns
how to do a mans work by doing =
boys work we'll. Each task has a
double importance; first it's own. and
second. the larger task to which it
leads, and the second depends upon the
first that is. IL | think anything IS un-
important ! slight il. and so am not
prepared or drilled for the larger call
awaiting me. ana when il comes
fail. All education means just this. II
is Il structure built upon foundation
stones. Unless | learn ,ny multiplied
ton table we'll in childhood | am seri-
ously handicapped later on. Unless
master my history and my spelling and
my reading in school | am held back
because of my ignorance when I grow
up.
THE REAL IMPORTANCE
or LIFE'S LITTLE DOINGS
But our message emphasizes the real
Importance OF life's little doings and
sayings IN and of themselves. For the
usefulness Of a life and the good II can
10 are found not In great and heroic
deeds and words. but In the influence
and the character created by the or
binary and the so-called common. The
most helpful! and blessed people In the
world ar" they who never neglect lit
tie things. The sincerity and loyalt!
OF their friendships, the readiness with
which they respond to every. appeal.
the honesty OF their dealings, the sun
shine which they spread upon the way,
the sympathy they have for others
these make them like anHely on earth,
and the world moves on toward per-
lection because OF their influence.
nave nothing 10 criticize in great he
roes and lofty artists and inspired poets
and splendid statesmen. They are
worthy of all praise and their works
are powerful But they are not the
men and women who after all. consti-
tute the bone and sinew OF a nation or
race and make humanity advance in
civilization and goodness. Rather is
il the large mass of faithful men ana
women. living their uneventful lives
and doing their unheroic deeds and
singing their little songs as they move
along life's highway. loyal In home and
church and community to all that is
pure and right and true-these II is
who make a nation strong and keep
back the floods of shame and wrong
and vice. y good general is necessary
for an army. but he could do little did
he not have in the rank and fle good.
brave men to carry out his orders, rot
as slaves, but as Intelligent and true
soldiers
EACH ONE HAS his
OWN PLACE IN WORLD
Thank God we all have a place in
tho bringing of the kingdom. and $
we are faithful, each one OF us. in
daily living shall find the Kingdom
drawing nearer. 1ntemperance il best
conquered by every man being a total
abstaincr. lmpurity is conquered most
surely by every man and woman hold
Ing modestlN and frmly to sclf-respect.
Dishonesty Will be overcome when. and
only when, every one OF us is held nv
honor in our mutual dealings. Peace
VIII come when every man loves ana
practices peace daily. Church unity
Will come when every Christian loves
l
browns h!s pride and conceit in the
waves of warm hearted fellow ship.
The world viii be converted to Jesus
Christ when every believer prays and
gives and works for evanEelization and
tries 10 br inc To the cross some COM
panion who is wandering. AS the
ocean is hllcd by the in1Gwing: OF
countless rills and rivulels which In
their turn are fed by the drops OF
rain, so The glory of perfect worlG is
10 come through the quiet shining of
millions of lives. serving. hoping. pray
Ing. striving for goodness and truth
IN ali the little ways of their daily
existence. one grows weary OF con
stitutions and platforms and theories
why not just try to live In simple and
natural goodness ana happiness. as in
the presence OF God: Much more will
he Cconpli shed so than in the noisicr
schemes full! of haste and rlvalryb
LITTLE THINGS ARE
TIE HARDEST TO DO
80 course. the little things are the
hardest To do, and this for several rea-
sons There is little glory or praise
attached 10 the regular. simple. consc-
Grated life, Human applause rings for
The popular hero although he may be
selfish, complaining man i'll his own
home and human blame is for the man
vino fails ia some great scheme. al
though he may loo good aud kind
u
rian. Again. there IS little sympathy
felt for him WHO is faithful In little
things People take his uprightness
and loyalty as natural thing and
never realize how mucn OF struggle
he may have in his personal life. Ella
Wheeler Wilcox has q sweet little poem
ON pathetic strength III which she
shows how often more thought is given
70 an invalid or IL weak person than
TO one who, bravely and with reserve
concerning his own troubles sights on
and nnscifishly serves his fellows. and
u iS Very true 10 life. once more. the
littlc things are apt TO grow monot-
onous and tame. IT Ia the same day
after day, and little romance or poetry
IL associated with IL save az the faith
fui one Gnds the romance Of happiness
ana the poetry Of Coils love and care
Indeed. to-day ore is panied ny the
easy way in which people neglect the
old fashioned virtues: they are even
scorned, al tho home itself is scorncd
in novel and PLAY. While all sorts OF
attractions are eagerly sought. Take
time TO be holy" the old hymn urges.
but We modern folk are too busy rush
tng here and there TO find time for