Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
Making Life Worth While
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKINs.
Text; st. Luke xii. 1928.

There Is no more miserable cry that
ever escaped the lips Of 4 discouraged
man than this: Life is not worth liv-
ing II is a cry which shows that
ignorance and laziness have gotten
ho!d OF the man and that he fails to
realize his divine birth and his divine
opportunity. 1t Is Il sad thing in this
world when a man, through his own
iauit. mas no communication with his
l"'her' nut IL Is saddcr thing when n
man mas no communication with Cod
ms Heavenly Father 40 man can
really know God and think that life
is not worth living. Moreover, a man
with energy and character desires to
make his life count for something.
nc wishes to have 1t accomplish some
lasting good and therefore he puts
lorth every effort and seizcs every OPP
p"rtunity in order that his life may, as
II were. fulfill itself.
= ouch man, however unless he hears
GOD call and knows himself to DO
Hod servant. can hardly reach the
highest and best. The inspiration of
lie comes from the knowledge. first.
that ! am Gods child placed in the
world to do work for Him. and.
second. that the opportunity afforded
by the world around me calls forth
my love and cXcites my zeal. There
Is not much difference between tho
the man who says that there is no
work TO be done, and that existence is
fraud. one may appear uttlo
higher than the other in the measure
!ncnt which is human. but in Gods
sight they both fail 10 realize tho exac,
truth of living.
THE WORLDWIDE LIFE
DEFINES IT'S BOUNDARIES
Tho world-widc life. first of all. de-
~,
gently. Il came from God. go to God
am here TO serve Cod" If a man is
"a mystery to himself he can hardly
br!ng other men 20 use life as they
"mght II a man is ignorant concern
Ing his origin he cannot meet and
solve the problems Of life. But how
simple life comes. after all. when
these three great declarations bound
II All the confusion and complcxitv
weaken. az IL were. before the majesty
OF this threcfold divine truth con-
corning man.
Again. the worth while life seeks for
certain graccs In order that /, may ac-
'ompiiEh It's work I; strives after un-
feihshncsa, generosity and kindness In
ealing with men. 1t seeks to devotion
hopein!n"ss. and chccrfulncss and
courage in connection with its own ac-
lions. II has faith. and vision. and
endurance as regards God All OF these
part OF !tseif In order tina; II may do
well the work committed to IT, we
must not fail 10 clothc ourselves with
these necessary virtues. for without
them We cannot live a we ought nor
can We accomplish that which is be-
STRIVES AFTER HIGH
AND SPLENDID IDEALS
Once more. the worth while life
e NJ Srlc 10
II does not neglect little things but at
the same time Il brav"ly reaches after
big things. that il. things which are Of
great moment Faithfu!ncss in the lit
tie duties OF everyday life is fine. but II
ought 10 lead normally to n large vision
and large cndcavor. II is easy 10 be-
come provincial in everything. In our
religion. our business, our community
life. there must come "A breath OF world
wide opportunity 10 touch our brows
and our brains and We must find our
selves as a part Of the universal" I
can do my work better. no matter how
detailed and little that work may be IL
! think Of myself as one Of n great null
t!tudc: as one striving 10 be faithful
in little things, bat rs one who is lift
ing his eyes 20 the hills The worth
while life - unlimited in its desire and
in its effort.
But We must not forget that which
our Scripture passage "mincntlv
sacgcsts: the reaching toward Cod"
which makes Ms know that righteous
Nass and faith are. a.tc- all. the great
things to be spread abroad through
out the world | am not successful
because I have money. nor can my sue
cess he measured by popularity. nor
even by genius II is goodness that
tells. /; is goodness that endures II
is goodness, that acts as a lcaVcn to
make the whole OF life better. and It
to strike down wickedness and TO place
truth upon the throne. This goodness
comes from God. 1t results from the
Souls opening itself and letting the
spirit Of Christ enter in. 1t comes from
constant fellowship with Him, the low
ing Friend. and il comes from using
those blessings which He has placed
il our hands that through them
ray hold ourselves in blessed bondage
~ Tim VINO is invisible
COWS AMBASSADORS
CERTAIN OF SUCCESS
rho first thing. then. for us all TO
,Nr'n IL we would make life worth
vile is that we should he Christians.
III H. having given Our hearts 10 God.
"" can so ont with assurance 10 do
Ills work and know that we cannot fail
because He has sent us rs His ambas-
sailors. No life can be failure which
earnestly and enthusiastically and
Loyalty to the task of preparing the
world for the coming OF Christ
- little gold amidst the gray,
That's sunshine:
\ little brightness on the way,
That's sunshine;
A little slimpsing of the blue
a little widening of the view,
\ little heaven breaking through.
That's sunshine.
"A little smiling through the tears.
That's sunshine:
little faith behind the fears.
That's sunshine:
4 little pressure OF the hand,
(; \ little yielding of demand
\ little grace to understand
That's sunshine"
LABRADOR MISSION SHIP