The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-06
"rhe Blessings and Problems Of La

a large congregation listened with
much interest In Grace Street Baptist
Church last night. DIR. Wilson took as
his texts: rs not this the Carpenter
Mark 6:3: Not siothful In business.
fervent In spirit, serving the Lord"
Romans 1911: Jesus Christ in whom
each several buildings htly framed to-
gether. groweth into a holy temple
In the Lord" Eph. 2;2o-2t. DIR. Wilson
spoke the following;
1t is false to affirm that Chris
tianity is a life and not a doctrine
It is equally false to say that Chris
The fact is, it is both doctrine and
a life The very purpose of the rev.
elation of the doctrine teaches. 1t
is intended that religion and life
shall go along together. No idler
can be a high type Christian. God
intended that we should be not sloth-
full In business at the same time fer
vent In spirit, thus serving the Lord.
And we can serve him best in no
other way.
Industry has more blessing than
idleness II is conducive to health,
wealth, happiness. and honestly pur-
sued. to growth in Christian char
acter.
Some persons have the impression
that work Is a part of the curse that
sin brought into the world. They
imagine that If our first parents had
not fallen they would never have had
anything to do, that they would have
walked about forever among the
trees of Paradise and by the rivers.
having a good time They suppose
q
part of the penalty of their sin. But
this is a mistaken impression. Work
was part of the unfallen life in Par
adtse-It WAS never meant that man
should have nothing to do. Idleness
was no part OF the Edenic happiness.
There is no doubt hut that the fall
changed the character OF work
somewhat, but we must never forget
that in work was part Of mans lot
even in Paradise. Therefore, work
itself is not a curse. but blessing.
All life testifies to this, Everywhere
we find work one OF the conditions
is active. MY Father worketh
hitherto. and I work said Jesus.
God is never fdfe The decaiogue
enjoins work as a divine ordinance.
six days shalt thou labor"
The Blessings OF Labor.
We all know that Jesus sanchfed
labor by working with his own hands
as a carpenter, thus bringing to 1t
dignity and glory. There are many
blessings that come as a result OF
honest toll. In fact, few come with
out it.
First OF all labor dignifies and
ennobles life. II matters not what
ones vocation is. il has advantages
and disa dvantages not found in any
other, but all are for our good IL we
rightly meet them. And whatever
our work we should regard it as
sacred task given us to make us bet
ter citizens and to help the world
along We should always remember
that every neglected and poorly done
piece of work stamps itself inefface-
ably on our character.
The failures in life are those who
have either grown up In idleness or
have failed to appropriate the bless
ings Of honest labor. Notice / said
honest ahor for II Is only such that
dignif7es and ennobles life.
--2.-AHa-theH- Ia tseF- affords the pro-
per outlet Of ones energies, so that
they are not misused.
The forces within us must and will
find some expression and employ
ment 1t is therefore important that
they find this In channels of useful
ness for themselves and others. 1t
is easily to be seen that labor Is
distinctly moral and tends toward a
disciplinary effect upon character.
This has been the positive testimony
OF many.
Emerson said:
Work in every hour, paid or I'M
paid, see only that thou work. and
thou canst not escape the reward:
whether thy work be fine or coarse,
planting corn or writing eptcs. SO
only 1t be honest work. It shall earn
a reward to the senses az. well as
defeated you are born to victory.
The reward of thing we'll done Is
TO have done It."
Henry Drummond said:
The three ingredients of a per-
feet life are-work, which gives OPP
portunity: God. who gives happiness:
love. that gives warmth. Whenever
the world is all wrong, seemingly.
examine your life and see II one OF
these ingredients Is not wanting. The
ideal perfect and divine life was
spent, not with a book, but with
hammer and saw. There is nothing
greater in the world than simple
doing OF every day tasks. Work is
our moral education: no work. no
opportunities The farm is not a
place only for the growing OF stock;
the shop is not the place for the
growing CT machines alone. They
are the place for the growing of
souls"
Who are our best men today?
They are those who were brought
up to work at hard labor
g. Those last words from Drum
mond suggest another blessing I de-
sire to mention. Labor is one of
the best means of grace.
Whatever helps In ones growth
and development of life and charac-
ter is a blessing. Without work one
never can grow. Idleness breeds dis
ease Ii is ALWAYS unwholesome. No
matter how much money one may
have. though ii be unnecessary for
him to earn ANYTHING, vet for the
sake of the saving OF his own life
and for his mere physical well-being
he ought to do his share in the
worlds work We must work, too.
for the sake " our spiritual natures
Christian character cannot develop
in idleness, so work Is means Of
grace always. with Christifns
The busy working Christian Is the
best and the most useful In life.
They are the one you can .count-on
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