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Christ’s Object Lessons
chain to the higher world. This is true sanctification; for sanctifica-
tion consists in the cheerful performance of daily duties in perfect
obedience to the will of God.
But many Christians are waiting for some great work to be brought
to them. Because they cannot find a place large enough to satisfy
their ambition, they fail to perform faithfully the common duties of
life. These seem to them uninteresting. Day by day they let slip
opportunities for showing their faithfulness to God. While they are
waiting for some great work, life passes away, its purposes unfulfilled,
its work unaccomplished.
The Talents Returned
“After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth
with them.” When the Lord takes account of His servants, the return
from every talent will be scrutinized. The work done reveals the
character of the worker.
Those who have received the five and the two talents return to the
Lord the entrusted gifts with their increase. In doing this they claim no
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merit for themselves. Their talents are those that have been delivered
to them; they have gained other talents, but there could have been
no gain without the deposit. They see that they have done only their
duty. The capital was the Lord’s; the improvement is His. Had not
the Saviour bestowed upon them His love and grace, they would have
been bankrupt for eternity.
But when the Master receives the talents, He approves and rewards
the workers as though the merit were all their own. His countenance
is full of joy and satisfaction. He is filled with delight that He can
bestow blessings upon them. For every service and every sacrifice He
requites them, not because it is a debt He owes, but because His heart
is overflowing with love and tenderness.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” He says; “thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things;
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
It is the faithfulness, the loyalty to God, the loving service, that
wins the divine approval. Every impulse of the Holy Spirit leading
men to goodness and to God, is noted in the books of heaven, and in