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“According that a Man Hath”
411
Christ was the light of the world. He was the fountain of all
knowledge. He was able to qualify the unlearned fishermen to
carry out the high commission He would give them. The lessons
of truth given these lowly men were of mighty significance. They
were to move the world. It seemed but a simple thing for Jesus to
connect these humble persons with Himself, but it was an event
productive of tremendous results. Their words and their works were
to revolutionize the world.
God will accept the youth with their talent and their wealth of
affection, if they will consecrate themselves to Him. They may
reach to the highest point of intellectual greatness; and if balanced
by religious principle, they can carry forward the work which Christ
came from heaven to accomplish.
The students at our colleges have valuable privileges, not only
of obtaining a knowledge of the sciences, but also of learning how
to cultivate and practice virtues which will give them symmetrical
characters. They are God’s responsible moral agents. The talents
[513]
of wealth, station, and intellect are given of God in trust to man
for his wise improvement. These varied trusts He has distributed
proportionately to the known powers and capacities of His servants,
to every man his work.
And the Giver expects returns according to the gifts. The hum-
blest gift is not to be despised. Everyone has his peculiar sphere
and vocation. He who makes the most of his God-given oppor-
tunities will return to the Giver, in their improvement, an interest
proportionate to the entrusted capital.
The Lord does not reward the large amount of labor. He does not
regard the greatness of the work so much as the fidelity with which it
is done. The good and faithful servant is rewarded. As we cultivate
the powers God has given us, we shall increase in knowledge and
perception.
Perseverance in the acquisition of knowledge, controlled by the
fear and love of God, will give the youth increased power for good in
this life; and those who make the most of their opportunities to reach
high attainments will take these attainments with them into the future
life. They have sought and obtained that which is imperishable. The
ability to appreciate the glories that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard”
(
1 Corinthians 2:9
), will be proportionate to the attainments reached.