1 Chronicles 29:10-20 Why David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be you, LORD God of Israel our father… I. GOD MAKES MEN GREAT BY BESTOWING UPON THEM DISTINGUISHED GENIUS AND TALENTS. Some of the courtiers of the Emperor Sigismund, who had no taste for learning, inquired why he so honoured and respected men of low birth on account of their science. The emperor replied, "In one day I can confer knighthood or nobility on many; in many years I cannot bestow genius on one. Wise and learned men are created by God only." II. GOD MAKES MEN GREAT BY AN EDUCATION, AND BY EVENTS IN LIFE SUITED TO DISCOVER, TO EXCITE, TO ENCOURAGE, TO IMPROVE, AND TO DIRECT THEIR TALENTS. The most luxuriant soil, when uncultivated, often becomes wild and barren, while a soil less favourable richly recompenses the seed sown, and the labours of the husbandman. 1. Early instruction and discipline correct the blemishes, brighten the polish, and increase the excellences of genius. 2. The friends and companions of our early youth contribute not a little to the strengthening and improving our natural talents. 3. Favourable providences expand the faculties, call forth exertions, and discover the extent of talents, which otherwise might have lain dormant, or shone with less lustre. Erpinius the critic, was first stimulated to a proper improvement of his time and talents by looking into Fortius Ringelbergius's treatise on study Franklin was similarly affected by an essay of Dr. Cotton Mathers, on doing good. Great occasions produce great talents. A Frederic and a Washington might have lived obscure, and died forgotten, had the time, place, and circumstances which called forth their abilities been different. III. IT IS GOD WHO IMPLANTS DISPOSITIONS, AND EXCITES TO CONDUCT, WHICH ENABLE MEN TO IMPROVE THEIR NATURAL ABILITIES, AND PROVIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANTAGES FOR BECOMING GREAT. Exercise and activity marvellously improve and increase talents, comparatively small. God makes men great by influencing their tempers and enabling them to govern their spirits and conduct their lives by the rules of reason and religion. IV. GOD MAKES MEN GREAT BY BRINGING THEM INTO DIFFICULT AND TRYING SITUATIONS, WHICH EXERCISE AND MANIFEST THE GREATNESS OF THEIR DISPOSITION AND TALENTS. V. GOD MAKES MEN GREAT BY RENDERING THE EXERCISE OF THEIR TALENTS ACCEPTABLE AND USEFUL. VI. IT IS GOD WHO ASSIGNS TO THE GREAT THE SPHERE OF THEIR GREATNESS. VII. IN THE HAND OF GOD IT IS TO LIMIT THE DURATION OF HUMAN GREATNESS.Conclusion: Address — 1. Those whom the hand of God hath made great. God made you great for the general good, and not merely for your own pleasure or profit. Distinguished talents were bestowed that, with success, you might guide others to wisdom, to religion, and happiness. 2. Those whom a scanty measure of natural talents or acquired accomplishments confines to a lower and more ignoble and laborious line of life. Beware of envy and discontent. (J. Erskine, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. |
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