The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-01-13

Nd MECHANIC
who should be pursuing imperial
power who are deludedly seeking
only a pot OF gold, or a dream of
the poet Young reminds US thai |
TOO low they build. VINO build be- |
meath the stars" |
A sense of humOr saves one from
being annoyed by the absurd spec
tacle OF the boastful "self-made man"
h struts n poses and crows like q
bantam rooster. The foolish vanity
which says Of a life or a work. Il did
it, is rebuked by these wise words
of old Paul 10 young Timothy. as the
Revised Version correctly renders
them: Thou therefore, my child, be
strengthened" Catch that? Not 'be
strong" but "be strengthened" Not
mighty Of yourself. by your own pow
er and activity; but, in the passive
mood, "be strengthened" the agency
being One outside of yourself. That
is divine wisdom We are not strong.
but we are strengthened. We are
not able. but we are enabled. No
ours the power, but Christ's. And
since the power is not ours, neither is
the glory. = His be the praise who
granted the power. And every we'll
balanced, mature person comes to the
same conclusion, as he looks upon his
life. He knows that his achieve
ments AVE mostly been wrought out
side Of his W volitions. He has
been helped by SO many agencies that
he is ready reverentlStO say, 1T is
the Lords doings: it is marvellous in
my eyes"
The greatest of ambitions is the
l UiiliprnnCC RI nav anU nriao m no
greatly used by God in the worlds
service.
The ashes Of yesterday deadens the
fire Of today. Paul said, Stir into
fame the gift that is in thee" Give
attention to the cultivation to your
powers and Of your This
! business of being ambitious needs
not only intention but also attention.
Everybody desires better things. in a
more or less vague fashion; only the
fit make it the real business Of life
; to keep the fame OF resolution
brightly burning.
5 A clever comment upon the recent
l awakening of the men of the
J churches was, lone thing [ fear
; about this uprising of the laymen is
. that they will sit down too soon.
! That remark was born of an Obser-
: walton of life. Many ambitions that
promise great things prove anemic
: and quickly languish by the way
) Purpose without persistence is pow.
. erless. g
: Consider all the millions Of youns
= men and women who q passet
through the Christian Endeavor So
ciety. The great dreams Of you'll
: famed in their hearts. They aspire<
" to noble service. Life seemed t,
q them a talent to be nightly multi
piled. Yet where are they today
Loyal, efficient Christians, the mos
of them, no doubt. Some have don
- really distinguished service in tn
Church and State. But, surely, tn
! world has a right to expect more o
this worldwide organization, whic1
has SO greatly fired the hearts Q
youth. What has happened to thes
= holy ambitions? They have bee,
- lulled into Httleness. An insidiou
egotism has made many too easil
- satisfied with themselves; and S
they have failed to reach the rea
is measures Of their capability. Hol
80 ambition is still achieving, sti
"a pursuing"
r. An adequate motive and susie
nance for an ambition is given b
n Paul in the days lesson, when h
ia babe Timothy Remember jest
"a Christ" That Inspiration last
Self-aggrandizement will fail; tn
20 desire to be useful will fall; tn
"a pride of place and Accomplishment
will fail: but the example and Spir
Ia of Jesus are sufficient ~sustenanc
Forget Timothy. but remember ],
"a sus. Mediation upon Him is the vi
at failing spring OF service.
90 h inspired writer Of the Lett,
to the Hebrews bids the faithful RI
the race Cooking unto Jesus" TIL;
incentive abides. If the runner loo]
re at the person next ahead he m:
pass him, and the goal be gone. \
earthly example is adequate for
-, life ambition. But he who looks
=. Jesus finds him a reckoning beaco
- an alluring leader, an e~xhilaratiI