Proverbs 27:1 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Man in presence of the future: our greatness and our littleness

It is well to glance at—

I. OUR GREATNESS IN REGARD TO THE FUTURE .

1 . There need be no bound at all to our hope and aspiration in respect of the future. We are warranted in looking forward to an endless life beyond, to an actual and absolute eternity of blessedness and glory. Whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ has everlasting life.

2 . We can and we should prepare for a very long time to come . The legislator should devise his measures, the religious leader or organizer should lay his plans, the architect should make his designs, and the builder provide his materials with a view to the next century as well as to the next decade.

3 . We should have regard to the coming years as well as to the passing days; teaching our pupils so that they will not only pass the approaching examination, but be ready for the battle of life; offering and enforcing truths and principles which will not only tide men over tomorrow, but carry them victoriously through all the vicissitudes of their course, and solace and strengthen them in their declining days. But the lesson of the text is—

II. OUR LITTLENESS IN REGARD TO THE FUTURE . We do not know what a day may bring forth.

1 . How our purposes may be deranged, and all that we are proposing to do may have to be abandoned in favour of some more imperative duty (see James 4:13-15 ).

2 . How our prospects may be affected; we may possibly rise from indigence to affluence, but we are much more likely to be suddenly and seriously reduced. Financial calamities are many, but "windfalls" are few.

3 . How our circle of friendship may be narrowed, or how soon we may be called on to leave home and kindred.

4 . How our hope of health or life may be extinguished. "Between the morning and the evening" (see Job 4:19-21 , Revised Version) we may discover that we are afflicted with a disease which will complete its work in a few months at most, or we may be stricken down with a blow which will bring us face to face with death and eternity. With this uncertainty there are three lessons we should learn.