THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S What you can do, or think you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Only engage and then the mind grows heated; Begin it, and the work will be com pleted.'* If, in the parable of the Ten Virgins,’ the Lord sets before us the passive, contemplative, - waiting side of the Christian life; here He surely pictures the active, working side of it. Both are true and both must be practiced. Both servants who went to work were suc cessful, each man’s capital yielded one hundred per cent. Can we doubt the same result in our own case, remember ing that ours is a partnership with an active Partner? What a contrast is that presented by the servant with the one talent. He was indolent, impudent, The reward came when the Master returned, “after a long time.” The wise Christian iooks forward to his Lord’s return, knowing that then “we” (that is, Christians., “must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body” (that is, “his actions in this life.”—Weymouth), according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:10. The reward of the two faithful servants is exactly the same and is threefold: 1. The master’s praise: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” - This appealed to Paul. See Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4. 2. A larger and more responsible service. “I will make thee ruler over many things” This is always so. Faithfulness in the smaller place leads to advancement to the higher place. Before Mr. Moody addressed multi tudes he sat in the midst of a group of Chicago street Arabs and’ taught them of God’s love. And, let us say it rev- ungrateful and presumptuous. HI. The Christian’s Reward.
794 sing in Miss Havergal’s beautiful words, “Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee,” we are not making any offering or contribution to God, we are simply acknowledging what is really His though He has committed its use' to us. He has lost none of His rights to His property^ and we are responsible t;oi Him for its proper use. n . The Christian's Opportunity. The original and true meaning of “talent” is a sum of money. In our Lord’s time a talent of gold was equiva lent to about $-29,374.50, but in actual purchasing power it was equal to about ten times'that compared to nowadays. Five talents, then, amounted to nearly $150,000. This was' a large sum to hold in trust, a tidy bit of capital to trade with. Even one talent would give many a man an excellent start in business. The master knew the capa bilities of his bondservants and started them accordingly. They did not deter mine their capital; he did. Our Lord Jesus has given you and me exactly the right amount of capital; any less would cripple us, any more would swamp us. Waste no time over it. He knows best. The master left his servants a free hand, but he also (in the parable) left them without his advice and help. How much better off we are, for our Lord has left us prayer by which we can get His advice any time, the original “wire less.” Why do we not consult our Senior Partner more? The servant with the five talents and the servant with the two talents set to work “straightway__ (See R. Y.) Wey mouth translates it “without delay.” They were capable business men and lost no time in getting busy. “Lose this day loitering, ’twill be the same story Tomorrow, and the next more dilatory. The, indecision brings its own delays, And days are lost, lamenting o’er lost days. Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute
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