| Making the Most of Life |
Chapter 12 |
Page 2 |
Lovers of the violin are familiar with the name of Stradivarius, the old violin maker of Cremona. He has been dead nearly two hundred years, and his violins now bring fabulous prices. George Eliot, in one of her poems, puts some noble words into the mouth of the old man. Speaking of the masters who will play on his violin, he says:
“While God give them skill,
I give them instruments to play upon,
God choosing me to help him.”
Referring to another violin maker, his rival he says: –
“But were his the best,
He could not work for two.
My work is mine,
And, heresy or not, if my hand slacked,
I should rob God–since he is fullest good–
Leaving a blank instead of violins.
I say, not God himself can make man’s best
Without best men to help him.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
‘Tis God gives skill,
But not without men’s hands.
He could not make
Antonio Stradivarius’ violin
Without Antonio.”
At first reading these words may indeed seem heretical and irreverent, but they are not. It is true, indeed, that even God cannot do our work without us, without our skill, our faithfulness. If we fail or do our little duty negligently, there will be a blank or a blur where there ought to have been something beautiful. As another says, “The universe is not quite perfect without my work well done.”
One man is a carpenter. God has called him to that work. It is his duty to build houses, and to build them well. That is, he is required to be a good carpenter, to do the very best work he can possibly do. If, therefore, he does careless work, imperfect, dishonest, slurred, slighted work, he is robbing God, leaving only bad carpentering where he ought to have left good. For even God himself will not build the carpenter’s houses without the carpenter. Or, here is a mother in a home. Her children are about her, with their needs. Her home requires her skill, her taste, her refinement, her toil and care. It is her calling to be a good mother, and to make a true home for her household. Her duty is to do always her very best to make her home beautiful, bright, happy, a fit place for her children to grow up in. Faithfulness requires that she do always such service as a mother that Jesus shall say of her home making, “She hath done what she could.” To do less than her best is to fail in fidelity. Suppose that her hand should slack, that she should grow negligent, would she not clearly be robbing God? For even God cannot make a beautiful home for her children without her.
Page 2
<< Prior Page 1 2 3 Next Page >>