Duty the Principal Thing.
How COMMON is the error of thinking that one's truest success is his doing the most good that is possible. Doing one's duty is always better than doing any amount of good; better than accomplishing the largest beneficial results by one's action—apart from the question of strict duty. Saul made the mistake of thinking that worship and sacrifice were better than simple duty-doing. The Lord sent Samuel to rebuke and to condemn Saul's folly. David did better. When his men were in two divisions, one part fighting unto death, and the other part doing nothing but to stand and watch the camp equipage, David insisted that the measure of reward should be according to the men's duty-doing, and not according to their active service and its results. He said: "As his part is that goeth down to battle [to do great things], so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff [to attend to his simple duty there]; they shall part alike. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day." That seems to be God's standard of approval in every sphere. The invalid, patiently enduring in weakness and suffering, a helpless charge in the care of others, is as sure of recognition, and of a glorious reward, as is the wise ruler of a great people, or the winner of souls by the thousand as a brilliant and successful preacher of Christ. One's only anxiety need be to know what is duty, and to do that. Duty-doing is doing good, and should be the highest aim of service on the part of every child of God.—Sel.