Talents
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doing nothing. In this they err. The Lord in His distribution of gifts is
testing character. The man who neglected to improve his talent proved
himself an unfaithful servant. Had he received five talents, he would
have buried them as he buried the one. His misuse of the one talent
showed that he despised the gifts of heaven.
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“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”
Luke 16:10
. The importance of the little things is often underrated
because they are small; but they supply much of the actual discipline of
life. There are really no nonessentials in the Christian’s life. Our char-
acter building will be full of peril while we underrate the importance
of the little things.
“He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” By unfaith-
fulness in even the smallest duties, man robs his Maker of the service
which is His due. This unfaithfulness reacts upon himself. He fails
of gaining the grace, the power, the force of character, which may be
received through an unreserved surrender to God. Living apart from
Christ he is subject to Satan’s temptations, and he makes mistakes in
his work for the Master. Because he is not guided by right principles in
little things, he fails to obey God in the great matters which he regards
as his special work. The defects cherished in dealing with life’s minor
details pass into more important affairs. He acts on the principles to
which he has accustomed himself. Thus actions repeated form habits,
habits form character, and by the character our destiny for time and
for eternity is decided.
Only by faithfulness in the little things can the soul be trained to
act with fidelity under larger responsibilities. God brought Daniel and
his fellows into connection with the great men of Babylon, that these
heathen men might become acquainted with the principles of true reli-
gion. In the midst of a nation of idolaters, Daniel was to represent the
character of God. How did he become fitted for a position of so great
trust and honor? It was his faithfulness in the little things that gave
complexion to his whole life. He honored God in the smallest duties,
and the Lord co-operated with him. To Daniel and his companions
God gave “knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel
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had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
Daniel 1:17
.
As God called Daniel to witness for Him in Babylon, so He calls
us to be His witnesses in the world today. In the smallest as well as