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A Word To You Who Would Be Useful
A Word To You Who Would Be Useful
By Samuel Logan Brengle
Does the devil ever tempt you to feel that you are of no use and can do nothing? Every genuine Christian wants to be useful, fruit-bearing, and a soul-winner. This desire is characteristic of the new nature, received at conversion. When Paul was converted, he wanted to go back to Jerusalem and tell all his old friends about it, that they, too, might be saved. When you were converted your heart went out to God for the salvation of your friends, and you tried to so live your life before them that they would be brought to Jesus, and it is largely this desire for usefulness and the salvation of others that has led you to become a soldier or an officer. But now that you are fairly in the Army and in its work, do you ever feel that you are useless; that you can do nothing; that your words are powerless to lead people to Jesus?
I find a great many such people, and maybe you are such an one, and if so, it is for you I write. I have often felt as you do myself; and therefore can sympathize with you, and maybe can write something to encourage you. And first I would say, do what you can. 'Angels can do no more.' Your talents may not be great, but use what talents you have and God will surely increase them. It is a law of God, that what is used shall be increased. Everything that has life begins small. The largest oak was once enfolded in an acorn. The most skillful musician in the world at one time did not know one note from another. The most learned man now living once did not know A from Z. Moses was once a helpless babe in a floating ark of bulrushes. The General was once a young convert. But they grew and increased. If there is spiritual life in you, you will grow, if you will do with your might what your hands find to do.
Cultivate your talents. There are many thousands of bandsmen in the Army today who at one time could not play an instrument, and who did not know a cornet from a concertina. But they began to practice. It was slow work at first. But they kept at it. Probably, the first day they could not see that they had made any progress at all, nor the second day; but in a week or a month they could see. They began, kept patiently at it, and at last succeeded. That is the way to cultivate any talent we have. That is the way to become mighty in prayer, to become acquainted with the Bible, to learn to speak or sing or fish for souls. Begin and keep at it.
Do not get discouraged because you cannot do as well as someone else. God has a work for you to do, and no one else can do it; not even the General can do it. God meant that work for you and you for that work, and if you do not do it, it will never be done. The thing then for you to do is to go to God and thank Him for what gifts you have and for giving you some work to do, and then ask Him for wisdom to do it bravely, faithfully and wisely, and He will surely be with you.
Do not sit down in the discouragement of unbelief and think because you have not the talents of some gifted person you know that therefore you can do nothing. That is wicked. It is dishonoring to God, pleasing to the devil, and will surely result in a great loss to your soul, if not in the final loss of your soul. Jesus tells us that the man with five talents put his money out at use and gained five talents more, and likewise the man with two talents. But He says the man with one talent went and wrapped it in a napkin and hid it, and so lost it, and was himself cast out as a slothful and wicked servant into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Does the devil ever tempt you to feel that you are of no use and can do nothing? Every genuine Christian wants to be useful, fruit-bearing, and a soul-winner. This desire is characteristic of the new nature, received at conversion. When Paul was converted, he wanted to go back to Jerusalem and tell all his old friends about it, that they, too, might be saved. When you were converted your heart went out to God for the salvation of your friends, and you tried to so live your life before them that they would be brought to Jesus, and it is largely this desire for usefulness and the salvation of others that has led you to become a soldier or an officer. But now that you are fairly in the Army and in its work, do you ever feel that you are useless; that you can do nothing; that your words are powerless to lead people to Jesus?
I find a great many such people, and maybe you are such an one, and if so, it is for you I write. I have often felt as you do myself; and therefore can sympathize with you, and maybe can write something to encourage you. And first I would say, do what you can. 'Angels can do no more.' Your talents may not be great, but use what talents you have and God will surely increase them. It is a law of God, that what is used shall be increased. Everything that has life begins small. The largest oak was once enfolded in an acorn. The most skillful musician in the world at one time did not know one note from another. The most learned man now living once did not know A from Z. Moses was once a helpless babe in a floating ark of bulrushes. The General was once a young convert. But they grew and increased. If there is spiritual life in you, you will grow, if you will do with your might what your hands find to do.
Cultivate your talents. There are many thousands of bandsmen in the Army today who at one time could not play an instrument, and who did not know a cornet from a concertina. But they began to practice. It was slow work at first. But they kept at it. Probably, the first day they could not see that they had made any progress at all, nor the second day; but in a week or a month they could see. They began, kept patiently at it, and at last succeeded. That is the way to cultivate any talent we have. That is the way to become mighty in prayer, to become acquainted with the Bible, to learn to speak or sing or fish for souls. Begin and keep at it.
Do not get discouraged because you cannot do as well as someone else. God has a work for you to do, and no one else can do it; not even the General can do it. God meant that work for you and you for that work, and if you do not do it, it will never be done. The thing then for you to do is to go to God and thank Him for what gifts you have and for giving you some work to do, and then ask Him for wisdom to do it bravely, faithfully and wisely, and He will surely be with you.
Do not sit down in the discouragement of unbelief and think because you have not the talents of some gifted person you know that therefore you can do nothing. That is wicked. It is dishonoring to God, pleasing to the devil, and will surely result in a great loss to your soul, if not in the final loss of your soul. Jesus tells us that the man with five talents put his money out at use and gained five talents more, and likewise the man with two talents. But He says the man with one talent went and wrapped it in a napkin and hid it, and so lost it, and was himself cast out as a slothful and wicked servant into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
"Rooted and grounded in love" (Eph. iii. 17).
Days of Heaven Upon Earth
"Rooted and grounded in love" (Eph. iii. 17).
There is a very singular shrub, which grows abundantly in the west, and is to be found in all parts of Texas. It is no less than the "mosquito tree." It is a very slim, and willowy looking shrub, and would seem to be of little use for any industrial purposes; but is has extraordinary roots growing like great timbers underground, and possessing such qualities of endurance in all situations that it is used and very highly valued for good pavements. The city of San Antonio is said to be paved with these roots.
Deeper, deeper let the living waters flow;
Blessed Holy Spirit! River of Salvation!
All Thy fulness let me know.
The Enriching Savior!
"The same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him!" Romans 10:12
The Gospel is not confined to any nation or people. It is proclaimed and offered to the world. Mark 16:15. Once the Divine favor rested principally upon Israel, Romans 9:4, 6, but it is now extended to the Gentiles. "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek," verse 12. The middle wall of partition is broken down, and believers of every nation may approach the mercy-seat.
I. The Character of Christ, the Great Enricher. "The same Lord over all."
This verse is full of precious consolation. It implies his Divinity, without which he could not be the enriching Savior.
He is called:
1. "The same Lord," the same Divine Savior as described, verse 4. He is the end of the law, and the procurer of righteousness for rebellious man. He lived in conformity to that law, and he endured its penalty on the cross, Romans 3:20-26.
2. "The same Lord," as described, verse 9, "Lord Jesus, whom God raised from the dead." The Divine Savior, who burst the barriers of the tomb, indicating that his death was successful — that his mediation was triumphant. By his resurrection, he was "declared to be the Son of God with power."
3. He is said to be "over all." This expresses his universal dominion and government.
He is "Lord over all" the heavenly world, Ephesians 1:20-22.
He is "Lord over all" the angels, Hebrews 1:4-8.
He is "Lord over all" the earth, and Hell, the abode of the lost, Philippians 2:9-11.
He is "Lord over all" the Church, Ephesians 1:22, 23.
He is "Lord over all" the universe, Colossians 1:15-17. The "government is upon his shoulder."
II. His Enriching Influence.
As "Lord over all" he is able to enrich others. As the Mediator of the new covenant, he possesses an inexhaustible stock of spiritual blessings, by which he can "be rich unto all who call upon him." "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell."
1. He enriches the guilty one, with the pardon of all his sins, however numerous and flagrant. 1 John 1:7; Acts 13:38.
2. He enriches those condemned by the law, with deliverance and justification. Acts 13:39. Romans 5:1; 8:1.
3. He enriches the unrighteous and defiled, with cleansing grace and regenerating power, to make them "new creatures in Christ Jesus." 2 Corinthians 5:17.
4. He enriches the outcast and abandoned, with adoption into His redeemed family, and all its precious privileges.
5. He is a rich, full, free, and inexhaustible fountain!
What more can be said?
He enriches . . .
the ignorant with wisdom,
the weak with strength,
the fearful with courage,
the depressed with consolation,
the soldier of the cross with armor, success, and conquest,
the tempted and tried with support and a way of escape,
the afflicted and bereaved with strength according to the day,
the dying with the hope of immortality, and afterwards with Heaven itself.
the ignorant with wisdom,
the weak with strength,
the fearful with courage,
the depressed with consolation,
the soldier of the cross with armor, success, and conquest,
the tempted and tried with support and a way of escape,
the afflicted and bereaved with strength according to the day,
the dying with the hope of immortality, and afterwards with Heaven itself.
He can make all grace to abound to all his people.
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield. The LORD gives grace and glory. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly!" Psalm 84:11
III. The Objects of His Enriching Grace. "Unto all who call upon him."
1. To call upon him implies a deep sense of need. None else will call upon him.
2. To call upon him implies believing prayer. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
3. To such he is rich without distinction. He spiritually enriches without distinction.
(1.) As to rank. He enriches the rich and the poor, the great and the low, the noble and the ignoble, the monarch and the peasant.
(2.) As to mental endowment or literary acquirements. He enriches the learned and the ignorant, the great philosopher and the man of small intellect.
(3.) As to age or gender. He enriches the male and female, the aged and the youth — all are welcome to Christ.
(4.) As to nation. He enriches the Jew and Gentile. This is asserted verse 12, and Colossians 1:11.
(5.) As to enormity of crime and aggravation of guilt — if they only repent.
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