Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
November 26
Morning
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it
with thy might."ÑEcclesiastes 9:10.
Whatsoever thy
hand findeth to do," refers to works that are possible.
There are many things which our heart findeth to do
which we never shall do. It is well it is in our heart; but if we would be
eminently useful, we must not be content with forming schemes in our heart, and
talking of them; we must practically carry out "whatsoever our hand findeth to do." One good deed is more worth than a
thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for large opportunities, or for a
different kind of work, but do just the things we "find to do" day by
day. We have no other time in which to live. The past is gone; the future has
not arrived; we never shall have any time but time present. Then do not wait
until your experience has ripened into maturity before you attempt to serve
God. Endeavour now to bring forth fruit. Serve God now, but be careful as to
the way in which you perform what you find to doÑ"do it with thy
might." Do it promptly; do not fritter away your life in
thinking of what you intend to do to-morrow as if that could recompense for the
idleness of to-day. No man ever served God by doing things to-morrow. If we honour Christ and are blessed, it is by the things which we
do to-day. Whatever you do for Christ throw your whole soul into it. Do
not give Christ a little slurred labour, done as a
matter of course now and then; but when you do serve Him, do it with heart, and
soul, and strength.
But where is
the might of a Christian? It is not in himself, for he is perfect weakness. His
might lieth in the Lord of Hosts. Then let us seek
His help; let us proceed with prayer and faith, and when we have done what our
"hand findeth to do," let us wait upon the
Lord for His blessing. What we do thus will be well done, and will not fail in
its effect.
Evening
"They shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel."ÑZechariah 4:10.
Small things
marked the beginning of the work in the hand of Zerubbabel,
but none might despise it, for the Lord had raised up one who would persevere
until the headstone should be brought forth with shoutings.
The plummet was in good hands. Here is the comfort of every believer in the
Lord Jesus; let the work of grace be ever so small in its beginnings, the
plummet is in good hands, a master builder greater than Solomon has
undertaken the raising of the heavenly temple, and He will not fail nor be
discouraged till the topmost pinnacle shall be raised. If the plummet were in
the hand of any merely human being, we might fear for the building, but the
pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in Jesus' hand. The works did not proceed
irregularly, and without care, for the master's hand carried a good
instrument. Had the walls been hurriedly run up without due
superintendence, they might have been out of the perpendicular; but the plummet
was used by the chosen overseer. Jesus is evermore watching the erection of His
spiritual temple, that it may be built securely and well. We are for haste, but
Jesus is for judgment. He will use the plummet, and that which is out of line
must come down, every stone of it. Hence the failure of many a flattering work,
the overthrow of many a glittering profession. It is not for us to judge the
Lord's church, since Jesus has a steady hand, and a true eye, and can use the
plummet well. Do we not rejoice to see judgment left to Him?
The
plummet was in active useÑit was in the builder's hand; a sure indication that he meant to push
on the work to completion. O Lord Jesus, how would we indeed be glad if we
could see Thee at Thy great work. O Zion, the beautiful, thy walls are still in
ruins! Rise, Thou glorious Builder, and make her desolations to rejoice at Thy
coming.