1 Chronicles 9:13 And their brothers, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and three score… Of certain men, otherwise unknown, this is the permanent historical record, "They were very able men for the work of the service of the house of God. It is a description full of interest, and reminds us that - I. GOD GIVES TO MEN THE NEEDED GIFTS FOR HIS WORK. For all his work in the world; but here we are specially reminded of his work in the Church and in Divine service. In older times we find Moses with the genius for order and rule, and Bezaleel with the genius for decoration, and Joshua with the genius for war, and David with the genius for song; and so on through each age we may go, marking the men endowed with gifts for pious services. Each apostle has his gift. Reformers, leaders, teachers, rise for their specific work in each age - Augustine, Anselm, Bernard, Luther, Calvin, Pascal, Whitefield, etc. Ever and again God gives us very able men for the work of the service of his house." And the greater and more prominent instances only affirm and assure the general truth that for all his work, be it greater or smaller in man's esteem, God ever finds the men and endows with the gifts, and each may become, by the faithful culture of his gift, a "very able man" for God's service. If he may he ought. II. THE GIFT IS OFTEN UNRECOGNIZED BY HIM WHO HAS IT. And so the Church loses much of the service she needs. Especially apply to the ministerial endowment. It is usually found associated with a modest and retiring disposition, and in self-diffidence many fail to believe in their own powers. And powers often lie dormant and unrecognized until circumstances of life secure their development. Men are often surprised by the discovery of hitherto unknown faculties. The men who push are seldom the men of real power. But the modesty of the highly endowed often prevents their gaining their due place and sphere. As an instance of unrecognized gifts, reference may be made to Dr. Guthrie, who, though so successful as a writer, only began to write for the press when he had reached middle life. We need a worthier apprehension of the truth that every renewed man is also an endowed man. In the light of it we may urge on each individual the duty of discovering his gift, and so cultivating and using it that he may prove a "very able man" for the work of the Lord. Exactly what Christ's Church needs is "very able men," by endowment and culture, in all her departments of service; and we should have the faith that the endowments are given us, and we must secure the recognition and culture of them. III. THE CHURCH SHOULD DISCERN THE MEN WITH THE GIFTS. Compare the intense expression of Moses, "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets!" Sometimes jealousies of order and office blind our eyes so that we cannot see the gifts of others. Sometimes desire for the exclusive honour of place and work makes us wilfully put other men down. Sometimes the presentation of the gift informs which appear to us strange, leads to our making a false and unworthy estimate of the gift. The Church has often grievously erred in casting out from her midst "very able men for God's service." They who watch for Divine endowments must be willing to recognize them in the great variety of forms in which they come to men. And all we really need to be assured of is the Divine stamp upon them. To refuse the men whom God has gifted is to be "found fighting against God." Press the responsibility of all who are in Church offices which bring them into immediate contact with the people or the children. They should be ever looking for the "signs of power," and leading out those who may become "very able men for God's work." And then press the responsibility that rests on the men who are found and proved strong, able for God's work. Having "put their hand to the plough, they must not draw back." Life for them is full of noblest possibilities. They must be "faithful unto death," and win "the crown of life." - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God. |
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