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SERMON
: preached by f
REV. C. WILLIAMS FISHER
at the
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, STOCKBRIDGE
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 1919
*:::
Text: “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.”
John 4:32
The resourcefulness of Jesus surprised his disciples. His
disciples were so dependent upon outside material sources for
their inspiration, consolation and success. They were follow-
ers of the Master, but knew nothing of his resourcefulness. Few
know experimentally today the marvelous sustaining po-
tentiality of the resourcefulness of the inner life. Jesus
* demonstrated the sublime fact, that this resourcefulness of
the soul is the one thing needful.” . He came to introduce
all in quest of the key to success, to this fundamental quality
of life. Jesus was not satisfied to possess this secret for him-
self alone; . He tried to make it a real possession in every in-
dividual life.
" I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” This soulful
quality so beautifully revealed in Jesus is the great need to-
day. The woman at the Sychar well knew how to draw from
Jacob's well; she knew how to find the water to quench her
physical thirst, but she did not know about the fountain of
God. She did not know the refreshing of the water of life.
Like many individuals she might be called practical; boast-
ful in her ability to draw from the well of Jacob, she could
say to Jesus: " Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well
is deep.”
Jesus talked about another well. The Woman said:
” Sir, give me this water that I thirst not!
The natural tendency of the average individual is to miss
this beautiful thought of the Master, perhaps because of our
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interpretation of religious truth. Generally speaking the
average individual fails to appreciate the fact of Christ,
* Man shall not live by bread alone.”
There are other vital necessities essential to the culture
and development of character. The average individual is
burdened with the consciousness that he must build his house
upon a rock; he must increase the size of his barns; he must
work " for the night cometh when no man can work;" he
must accumulate in some real Way, in order to have somewhere
to turn, something to give him blessed assurance in times of
trial and days of adversity.
Resourcefulness is man's necessity, but he must also re-
peat often for the good of his soul, "The Lord is my Shep-
herd, I shall not want.” ‘’The Lord is my refuge and strength,
a very present help in time of trouble.” He must testify
to º dependence upon God, that his real resourcefulness is
in God.
The psalmist teaches us in his songs, that it is a blessing
to know how to experience the consolations of God in times
of lonlihood and distress. It was the habit of the psalmist
to look God-Ward. According to his soulful music, he found
grace in the eternal resources of God. He found his in-
spiration and by the grace of God he was able to master his
manifold difficulties.
Every great personality whose name has found a place in
the pages of history, as a beacon light unto humanity, has
known something of the joy of the hidden forces making for a
good success.” One might dwell at length on this type of
resourcefulness pictured to us in Bible characters. Most
of us are familiar with the story of these Bible characters who
have interpreted to the centuries the beauty of spiritual
mindedness. I will not dwell upon the urgent necessity of
our imitation to do likewise. It is a source of inspiration to
witness the workings of a resourceful life, fortified and
beautified with splendid sufficiency, or reserve beyond the
immediate demands. Some are born with this gift and
fortitude, which gives poise and calm under testing. Some
are made Strong to endure through culture of natural gifts.
There is urgent need that we as individuals know ourselves.
Self reliance can be cultivated and should be.
We are profoundly impressed by the Gospel which suggests
the possibility of achievement along these special directions.
I am persuaded that the possession of reserve force is after
all the Supreme prerequisite in any program of human conduct.
The greater our intellectual resourcefulness, the more far-
reaching Our power of usefulness. The greater our store of
Wisdom, the more far-reaching our application of individual
potentiality in a World and at a time when the very universe is
giving emphasis to the triumph of reality. Surely a moral
reserve exalts and fortifies the individual beyond the tempta-
tions and the failures of life. A physical resourcefulness gives
One that abiding enduring element So necessary to victory in
the enlistment of character. The student with a passion to
excell next year over his past limitations need not worry over
his possible failure during the days of testing. The resource-
fulness of the iron horse enabling it to carry heavier burdens
than are put upon it is full of inspiration. The locomotive
that can burn its own Smoke as it draws its burden along gives
grace to power and Service.
The resourcefulness of the great organ inspires confidence
if you need power to give expression to the profundities of
music. It is triumphant to be able to do ones task heroically
and still have a stored up energy sufficient to really enjoy
your victory. Jesus in his delightful way taught the world
how to rise Supremely above the demands of life, and reign
Supremely as an overcomer. To imitate Jesus means greater
resourcefulness, and Christian resourcefulness means a
beautiful advantage over every possible condition where
effort means exhaustion beyond our depths.
There are so many ways to increase and store up the es-
Sentials Suited to life's demands. We have been taught by
the masters who have risen unto mountains of transfiguration.
Da Vinci, a man of affairs, busy building bridges and general
activities, like hundreds engaged in making a living, toiling
for the bread of life, Da Vinci painted The Last Supper;
a practical man but he left his immortal witness to the reality
and worth of the bread of life—the Spirit of God. So Martin
Luther; a busy man, but he could sing his songs. SO
Beethoven, a master Soul shut out from many things, but he
magnified the tremendous potentiality of the resourcefulness
of the inner life. So Milton, poor blind man; but how he
penetrated the subtleties of the invisible.
These giants of God have left their testimony. They
found the fountain of living Waters and in the strength of its
refreshment triumphed. Happy the individual who has dis-
covered his beautiful possibility of the inner life.
Illin
This power to evolve the inner spiritual life and create a
reserve fountain is something that comes through cultivation.
We admire a ten talent individual doing a five talent task with
ease. Of course we admire a five talent person trying to do
a ten talent service, but this spells ultimate exhaustion.
Surely, if we succeed we must like Jesus have this meat that
so surprised his disciples. If we build upon the foundation
of the apostles, we shall realize in a large and beautiful degree
the sublimity of that sufficiency which spells success.
A certain woman touched the hem of Christ's garment.
That touch cost Jesus something. Whenever he enriched
a single soul something went out of him. The drain of Jesus
according to the blessing unto others. But this Son of God
knew how to draw from the wells of the eternal and thus he
lived and served his fellowmen. Great, strong, but gentle,
resourceful Jesus. When each individual cultivates his own
talents and heroically performs his task the world's work
will not press too heavily upon any individual or group of
individuals. A ten talent man investing his talents, a one
talent man giving himself. Each strong and useful, because
his heart is tuned to God. Each individual in humble but
beautiful imitation storing up Spiritual energy that we, like
the Master, may go about doing good.
Be not like the man of the parable who kept his pound
laid up in a napkin. Cultivate and use every gift. Re-
member Jesus, " the unspeakable gift.”
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