The rich man and Lazarus.

In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Lazarus lies sick and hungry at the door of the Rich Man who only the crumbs that fall from the rich man's table. The Rich Man failed to recognize his opportunity; and when these two passed beyond, Lazarus was taken into the bosom of Abraham, while the Rich Man was consigned to the torments of everlasting punishment.

Wanted: a chance.

The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus must cause each one of us to reflect, that, undoubtedly, he has himself many opportunities lying unnoticed at his door. Indeed, while nearly every boy is prone to say when he sees a successful man, "If only I had his chance," the fact remains that he probably had as good a chance as the successful man but failed to make the most of it. Jesus understood well the weakness in men that makes for failure, both temporal and spiritual, and as was his wont illustrated his point by means of a significant parable.

The parable of the talents.

"The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five {184} talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

"After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

"Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid my talent in the earth: lo, here thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from {185} him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

A general law.

In this parable, Jesus has stated a far-reaching law of truth. It applies to every boy and to every girl, to every man and to every woman. And it operates in every field of endeavor—in the temporal world, in the mental world, in the spiritual world. Perhaps everyone knows someone else who is waiting for an opportunity. Perhaps, you yourselves, like the snail in Hans Christian Andersen's tale of "The Snail and the Rose Bush," think that you have a great deal in you, and say to yourselves as did the snail, "Wait till my time comes, I shall do a great deal more than to yield roses, or to bear nuts, or to give milk as cows do." But in thinking so and saying so you forget the eternal truth taught by Jesus in the parable of the talents. The big opportunity can come only if every day, like the rose bush, you make the most of that day's chance, and contribute the roses and the fragrance of your life to the world.

The water boy.

Let us consider a concrete case. Not so very long ago, there was employed in one of the great American steel works, a young boy to carry water. You all know what that means. And it must be admitted............