March 17Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath — Matt. 25:28, 29.
Why is the one-talented man chosen as an illustration of these talent-burials? It is to show the responsibility of those who have least—that the Lord expects even the least of His consecrated people to know of and to use the talents (opportunities) he has in his possession, and that he will not hold guiltless even those who have the smallest ability (opportunity) to serve Him and His brethren and His Truth, and who neglect to use it—Z '01, 59 (R 2764). The talents are the opportunities that God gives each according to his ability for service. Those who fail to use their opportunities will be deprived of these altogether; while those who use them will not only retain their own, but gain others in addition—even those lost by the negligent. Let this admonish each of us to seize and use the golden opportunities of service now—P '32, 30. Parallel passages: 1 Cor. 4:1, 2; Matt. 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; 12:35-38, 42; 16:2; 19:26; 1 Cor. 15:10; Lev. 10:1-7; Acts 1:20; Matt. 24:45-51; 1 Pet. 4:10. Hymns: 208, 13, 130, 136, 145, 183, 299. Poems of Dawn, 145: I'll Do My Very Best. Tower Reading: Z '06, 315 (R 3869). Questions: Have I this week been a faithful or an unfaithful steward? How? Why? With what results? |
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I'LL DO MY VERY BEST
I MAY perform no deed of great renown
No glorious acts to millions manifest;
Yet in my little labors up and down,
I'll do my best.
I may not paint a perfect masterpiece,
Nor carve a statue by the world confessed
A miracle of art; yet will not cease
To do my best.
My name is not upon the rolls of fame,
'Tis on the page of common life impressed;
But I'll keep marking, marking just the same,
And do my very best.
Mine may not be the beautiful and grand,
But I must try to be so careful, lest
It fail to be what's put into my hand—
My very best.
I MAY perform no deed of great renown
No glorious acts to millions manifest;
Yet in my little labors up and down,
I'll do my best.
I may not paint a perfect masterpiece,
Nor carve a statue by the world confessed
A miracle of art; yet will not cease
To do my best.
My name is not upon the rolls of fame,
'Tis on the page of common life impressed;
But I'll keep marking, marking just the same,
And do my very best.
Mine may not be the beautiful and grand,
But I must try to be so careful, lest
It fail to be what's put into my hand—
My very best.
