May 24

It was in my mind to build an house: ... but the word of the Lord came to me, saying... Thou shalt not build. — 1 Chr 22:7-8

There are many people who do preparatory work. A man goes to the West and clears off a piece of ground, building a rude log hut. His son succeeds him, and in the midst of broad, rich acres erects a palatial home. The father’s work was just as necessary and important, in its place, as the son’s.

One set of men make the excavation for a great building, and put in the foundations. For weeks they toil away under ground, and then another set of men come, and the walls rise up and a magnificent building is erected. The foundation work is buried, but who will say it is less important than the splendid house built above?

It is the same in all Christian work. One prepares the way, another follows and speaks the word which saves. To each one God allots a part, and if we do our own work, God asks nothing more. He accepts our purposes and blesses us for good intentions, though others carry them out.