MEN are willing to labor for God when they expect the labor will bring credit to themselves. They are far from being ready to do this when they see nothing but painful toil and no prospect that they shall ever have their services acknowledged by their fellow-men. So it is generally the case that there are plenty of persons willing to work for God as soon as some great thing can be found for them to do, but who have no eye to see, nor heart to perform, the humble labors which are suffering to be done, but which will attract no notice except from the eye of God. Such action shows how little men realize the account they must render to God.
God measures our conduct by the spirit which prompts it. The performance of humble acts for the purpose of honoring God and benefiting men, God will one day honor and acknowledge. But he will never acknowledge as done to him that which has been wrought to gain the esteem of men. Let us thank God that there is plenty of work to do which involves toil, and care, and self-sacrifice, and which is never likely to attract attention to ourselves or to inflate our spirits with pride. We have no occasion to seek some great thing that shall be worthy of our doing, and to stand idle, waiting for it to come. God gives us plenty of things to do, that we can render great in his sight by performing them with reference to his approval. We can put in the hands of those yet in darkness tracts which will shed upon them saving light. We can relieve the needy and distressed by helping them to help themselves. We can help forward the cause of Christ by our example of patience, humility, and self-control. Shall we not see what we can accomplish in these things? J. N. A.