USEFULNESS | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 22, 1880

USEFULNESS.

THAT the children may better understand what we mean by usefulness, we give them the following story just as it occurred:—

A gentleman was asked to address some children, and, taking out his watch, he asked them what it was for.

"To keep time," answered the children.

"Well, suppose it won't keep time, and can't be made to keep time, what is it good for?"

"It is good for nothing," they replied.

He then took out a lead pencil, and asked what it was for.

"It is to mark with," was the answer.

"But suppose the lead is out, and it won't mark, what is it good for?"

"It is good for nothing."

He then took out a pocket-knife, and asked what was its use.

"To whittle with," said some. "To cut with," said others.

"Suppose that it has no blade, then what is it good for?"

"Good for nothing," they all cried.

"Then a watch, a pencil, or a knife is good for nothing unless it can do the thing for which it was made?"

"Yes, sir," the children all answered.

"Well, children, what is a boy or girl made for?"

They hesitated; didn't know exactly what to say. Then he put the question:—

"What is the chief end of man?"

This they answered at once, "To glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."

"Well done," said the gentleman; "that is right. Now, then, if a boy or girl does not do what he or she was made for, and glorify God, what is he good for?"

And the children all answered at the top of their voices without seeming to think how it would sound,

"Good for nothing!"

That was it exactly. But if this be so, there must be a great many boys and girls, and grown up people, too, who are just good for nothing. We trust that none of our boys or girls will ever be of that number. Let them take Christ as their king and obey him; then they will be good for something.—Presbyterian Journal.