January 26

Fruitful in every good work. — COL. i. 10.

Occupy till I come. — LUKE xix. 13.

ACTION! — not that of the soldier fired with conquest, but of the merchantman, cool in brain, shrewd in judgment, augmenting invested capital. “Occupy” — do business herewith — “till I come.” The Christian life is a service of usefulness. Gratuitously, every believer receives his “pound,” then comes responsibility! An orthodox creed and a passive life may join hands. The mere culture of moods does as little for the soul as for the stock-market. Saved by faith, we must live by works! Duty slurred over robs the gospel of its power and the disciple of his reward!

To occupy, we must have knowledge. My successful business friend knows what he is about. He who negotiates for God must know God’s word! Buoyant feelings are indispensable. The worried man falls out of the commercial arena. To win laurels in traffic, one must likewise curb his passions with bits of steel and reins of raw hide. “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself.” We must die to the flesh to live to usefulness! Behold, moreover, the steadfastness of duty. “Occupy” — not till acclaim ceases or health loses its grip, but — “till I come!” “He that endureth to the end shall be saved!”

Alfred H. Monarch

Go, labor on, spend and be spent,

Thy joy to do thy Father’s will.

It was the way the Master went;

Shall not the servant tread it still?

H. BONAR.