Things Present

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1 Corinthians 3:22

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

We reckon present things at the highest rate: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." The little present, to our apprehension, eclipses the great past or the greater future. In the case of the true Christian —

I. HIS TEMPORAL POSSESSIONS ARE HIS OWN. The ungodly man for awhile engrosses the good things of this life, but they are sent to him often in anger, and are taken away in wrath. As for you, whatever of earthly good the Lord has apportioned you, is in a most blessed manner your own; because —

1. Honestly got. The Christian owns no stolen property or unrighteous gain. Dishonest persons may be rich, but none of their riches are in truth their own; like the jackdaw in the fable, they wear borrowed plumes.

2. Acknowledged to the great Giver with becoming gratitude. Gratitude is, as it were, the quit rent to the great superior owner, and until we discharge the claim, our goods are not lawfully ours in the court of heaven.

3. The due portion which belongs to God has been conscientiously consecrated. The tithing of the substance is the true title to it. It is not altogether thine till thou hast proved thy gratitude by thy proportionate gift to the cause of the Master.

4. We seek to be graciously guided in the use of them. They are not bestowed upon us absolutely; they are ours within the lines of law and gospel, within bounds of sobriety and holiness; not as masters, but as mercies. The benediction of heaven sweetens the lawful use of earthly goods. You are not required to play the ascetic. John came neither eating nor drinking; but the Son of man, who is your master, came both sating and drinking. There is no piety whatever in your accounting the gifts of Providence as necessarily temptations; you can make them so, but that is your folly and no fault of theirs. Vain are those who sneer at nature and the lavish bounty thereof. "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof." It is no crime to enjoy the beauties of nature, but a sign of idiocy to be unaffected thereby. Fair scenes, sweet sounds, balmy odours, and fresh gales, your Father sends them to you, take them and be thankful. Let us note well, before we leave this point, that any of God's saints who have but little of this world's goods, may yet remember that all things are theirs, so that up to the measure of their necessities God will be quite sure to afford them sustenance. The Lord is your shepherd, and you shall not want.

II. TEMPORAL TRIALS.

1. Tribulations are treasures. Saints gain more by their losses than by their profits. Your present trials are yours —

(1) As medicine. You need that your soul, like your body, should be dealt with by the beloved Physician.

(2) As means of strength. No man becomes a veteran except by practice in arms. Experience worketh patience, and patience brings with it a train of virtues.

(3) As windows, through which we get the clearest views of Christ. Do you understand what it is to come up to Christ's Cross, and to be conformed unto His death? It is only as you do this that you will have fellowship with Jesus, and understand what His love was towards you.

2. You who are cross-bearers, I would remind you for your comfort —

(1) That you have to bear the cross, but not the curse. Your Lord endured both. The penal result of sin Christ has exhausted, and now the cross that comes to you is garlanded with love.

(2) That your Lord sends you a cross, but not a crush. Your cross is proportioned to your strength.

(3) That your cross is not a loss. It shall only be a putting out to interest that which is taken from you that it may be returned anon with usury.

III. ALL OUR CIRCUMSTANTIAL SURROUNDINGS. These are ours as subservient to our usefulness. You wish to win souls, and say, "I wish I were a minister"; but you have a family round about you, and you have to keep to that farm, to manage the shop. Now the position you occupy is, all things considered, the most advantageous for doing your utmost for the glory of God. Suppose the mole should cry, "How I could have honoured the great Creator if I could have been allowed to fly. it would be very foolish, for a mole flying would have been a very ridiculous object, while a mole fashioning its tunnels and casting up its castles is viewed with admiring wonder by the naturalist, who perceives its remarkable suitability to its sphere. The fish might say, "How could I display the wisdom of God if I could sing, or mount a tree, like a bird!" But you know a fish in a tree would be a very grotesque affair; but when the fish cuts the wave with agile fin, all who have observed it say how wonderfully it is adapted to its habitat. It is just so with you. If you begin to say, "I cannot glorify God where I am, and as I am," I answer, neither could you anywhere. "But I have a large family," says one, "what can I do?" Train them in the fear of God. "I work in a large factory with ungodly men, what can I do?" Needless inquiry! What cannot the salt do when it is cast among the meat? "I am sick," says another; "I am chained to the bed of languishing." But your patience will magnify the power of grace, and your words of experience will enrich those who listen to you. Look at the seaman out at sea! does he sit down and fret because the wind will not blow from the quarter that he would most prefer? No; he tacks about and catches every capful of wind that can be of use to him, and so reaches the haven at last. Look at a good commander, if he occupies a bad position, he turns that to account, and often makes the worse become the better.

IV. SPIRITUAL PRIVILEGES.

1. The favour of God is not for heaven only; it is ours to-day. Adoption into His family is for this present time.

2. Christ is present, and He is ours. We have a "fountain filled with blood," which puts away all sin; a mercy-seat where all prayer is prevalent; an Intercessor who takes our prayers and offers them.

3. The Holy Ghost, too, is present, and He brings you present enlightenment, guidance, strength, consolation.

4. And if there be any promise to-day written in the Word of God, any blessing to-day guaranteed to the elect family, any mindfulness of Providence, or any abundance of grace, all these are yours, and yours now.

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