p. 85 | WHO DOES THE BEST? by Congregationalist

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 10, 1887

WHO DOES THE BEST?

By Congregationalist

WHETHER a given man attain eminence or not, his life is a success if he have made the most and the best of the opportunities which God has given him. He is blameless for not having used those afforded to others but not to him. He has no responsibility in reference to them. Upon his use of his own depends God’s verdict as to his success, and, although not “a great man,” so called, he may have accomplished far more in the sight of the all-knowing Lord, as in that of every impartial fellow-man who knows the facts about him, than many another has accomplished whom the world delights to honor.

The man who makes the most progress is not he who reaches absolutely the loftiest place, but he who climbs highest above his starting-point. He who is born into exalted station, favoring opportunities, and stimulating associations, and also inherits the accumulated abilities of generations of talented ancestors, may die far more renowned, and after a seemingly much more useful life, than he who springs from humble stock in obscurity and poverty, and is forced to make his own way to creditable usefulness by stern struggles with the world. But the latter, quite as often as not, is the one of the two who has made the best use of his life, when he lays it down at last. He is fully as likely as the other to be a nobleman, in the truest sense, all the time.

These truths should be well weighed by each of us. Theoretically we all accept them. Practically many of us are somewhat slow to act upon them. But it would do many somewhat pretentious persons good to be caused to realize that they are not regarded as superior beings merely because their blood is blue, their pockets deep and full, and their honors notable. It would do many patient, unassuming heroes far more good could they feel that their sacrifices and labors are recognized and appreciated in some degree. It would do us all, and the world at large, incalculable good, were we to correct our standards, so far as necessary, in order to “judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”