THE K I NG ' S BUS I NESS There is no waste in nature. God utilizes all natural resources and makes them contribute to the need of the world. (Psa. 11:24, 25; Luke 6:38). We live in a day and a land of luxury and of waste. It is awful to contem plate the waste in the lives and homes of believers,—waste of time, waste of talents, waste of treasure. Proofs of prodigality abound everywhere. What is more criminal than the waste of the love of God? He never gave us His love to keep to ourselves. He pours His life into ours and we are to pour it out in behalf of others, The whole scene suggests that we should: (T) See the need; get a vision. (2) Recognize the call, j (3) Bring our resources, poor as they are, to Him. (4) Take from His hands the needed supply. (5) Dis tribute to the world as far and as fast as possible. (6) Conserve all our pow ers and possessions for further service. (7) Follow where He leads. (4) THE MOUNTAIN MINISTRY, vs. 22, 23. • The Lord Jesus was compelled to. use authority in sending the disciples away (Mark 6:45). “And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while He sent away the people.” The disciples were to have a new ex perience on the water in the midst of a storm, and to have some new lessons of His watchful care. The Lord went to the mountain, to feed His own soul, in communion with His Father;' not to rest His tired body, but to minister, through prayer, to the needs of a world. The morrow was to be a testing day. Many would forsake Him. He was girding Himself. (Psa. 27:14). . “Wait on the Lord; he of good cour age, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Isa. 40:31.) “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they
1167
shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” While praying, His eyes were upon the storm-tossed disciples (vs. 24, 25), “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them to the end.” He never fails His own (Heb. 7:25). “Wherefore, He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He' ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Jesus spent the night in solitude and prayer. We cannot stress too emphatical ly the need and value of private prayer. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Set the trend of the tide toward Him by lifting Him up. (2) The misery of the multitude is met with His mercy. (3) A fast is a good preparation for a feast. The millions of starving souls should move our deepest sympathy. (4) We must not be occupied with our sources, but with His resources. (5) Very little becomes much when laid in His hands. (6) The disciples would have sent them away empty and starving; the Lord filled them full. (7) Fragments if faithfully gathered will go far towards filling the faint and famishing. Subject Illustration.—There is a nur sery tale that runs this way. One day a poor woman stood at the window of a King’s conservatory, looking at a cluster of grapes, LESSON which she longed to ILLUSTRATIONS have for her sick W. H. Pike child. She went home to her spin ning wheel, earned half a crown, and offered it to the gardener for the grapes. He waved his hand and ordered her away. She returned to her cottage, snatched the blanket from her bed, pawned it, and once more asked the gardener, offering five shillings." He was wroth and repulsed her. The Prin-
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs