Numbers 11:29

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"Enviest thou for my sake?" Num 11:29

We often justify our worst actions by pleading that they are one on account of others. The thief may say that he steals in order to save life with the money. We may claim to be so jealous for the Lord of hosts as utterly to misrepresent his Spirit. We may be so anxious to honour the institutions of Christianity as to violate all its charities and benedictions. Infidelity may be opposed in an unchristian spirit. The great leaders of the Church never feared what is termed competition, simply because their power is not merely official, but is personal and ennobling. Instead of desiring that the voices of prophesying should be silent Moses expressed a desire that all the Lord's people were prophets. Greatness does not depend upon surrounding littleness where moral influence is in question. Mont Blanc may be the greater because of the depressions which surround it, but this can afford no analogy in the estimate of moral majesty. When other people become prophets they will more appreciate the prophetic dignity of Moses. Envy of the kind which is deprecated is a subtle expression of selfishness. The men who burned with this envy wished their leader to suffer no loss of official supremacy, not knowing that Moses was part only of the great commonwealth, and that the prophetic power of others illustrated and confirmed the prophetic energy which had marked the great legislator. It is indeed part of the function of a great prophet to make prophets of other people. Not only was Christ the Light of the world, he invested his disciples with the same character. Instead of deprecating any possible increase of their light he called upon them to let that light shine before men, and demanded that no light, even though but the glimmer of a candle should be hidden under a bushel. It is right to protect the authority of great men, but this is best done by excluding every hurtful passion. Make great men standards of measurement, not discouragements to holy ambition. Christ, we may reverently say, may put the same inquiry to his Church when men arise with proposals to help the world. They may call themselves philosophers, reformers, rationalists, or what they please, Jesus Christ is willing that they should work out all their purposes and that they should be tested by the results of their action. The Church should be generous to all competitors. Let every man do what he can and he will find in the long run that experience is his best teacher. There are of course ameliorations which teach the service of influence and which are on no account to be undervalued; in so far as they are helpful Christ will accept the service, and in the degree in which they are genuine they will point to influences beyond themselves. Call down fire upon no man who does not walk with you. Instead of envying on account of God's supremacy, acknowledge the good that is in every man and exhort him to increase it. Moses would not be an idol to be superstitiously regarded; he would be a leader to be followed, a teacher to be obeyed, an example to be imitated; let us be careful lest our religion amounts to no more than an expression of official envy; when new lights arise let us give them scope; when new voices are heard speaking good things let us listen attentively; our duty is to try the spirits whether they be of God.