The City Youth
J. Thain Davidson, D. D. Psalm 17:14-15 From men which are your hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life… To every young man there comes sooner or later the brief but startling message, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee." You cannot always abide in the house of your childhood, But such a call to go forth is very serious. A thoughtful young fellow, who is in a house of business in the city, comes to me for a little conversation; he tells me of his religious difficulties, of his inward conflicts and his desire to live a Christian life; and ere we part I say to him, "Now, how many in your establishment seem to be at all seriously inclined?" How many in that huge drapery business? How many in that bank? How many in that workshop? Ten to one his reply is, "There is just one I know of that is a real Christian"; or, "Just two or three that take any interest in these things." It is the old story, "Few there be that find it." Now I ask you, "To which group do you wish to belong?" If to the men of the world, I don't know what brought you here, nor have I any message for you; but if to the men of God, then I want to speak to you. Now, by "the men of the world" is not meant merely a shrewd, sagacious person, but one who is a mere earthworm, sinful, sordid, and greedy of gain, whose only thought is to make money and feather his nest well. Think — I. OF THESE MEN OF THE WORLD AND THEIR PORTION. It is a great mistake to think that as soon as you are purse rich you will be heart rich. There is many a Midas in this city today, at whose touch everything seems to turn into gold, who would frankly tell you he had a far lighter heart when, as a young clerk, he was earning £60 or £80 a year. The wealthy Sir Charles Flower only spoke for many a rich man like himself when, to a beggar who asked him for money to get a piece of bread, he said, "I would gladly give you a sovereign if you would give me your appetite." Riches do make happy; but it is not the riches of the pocket, but the riches of the mind and heart. The riches of taste, of culture, of affection, and, above all, the riches of God's grace. But men do not believe this. They hear it said, and then seek after riches as if riches were everything and the Bible all untrue. But let such remember that after all, let them gain what they may, it is only "a portion for this life." Not a farthing can you take to the other side of the grave. It will be with you as with the partridge (Jeremiah 17:11). Men of the world, go you over your portion and tick off each particular, and say, "This, this, this, must be loft behind. Lord Chesterfield said, I have run the silly rounds of business and of pleasure, and I have done with them all. I look back on all that is past as one of those romantic dreams which opium produces, and I have no wish to repeat the nauseous dose." Yes, "a portion in this life" is but a poor unsatisfying portion at the best. II. THE CONTRAST: THE MAN OF GOD AND HIS PORTION. "As for me," says David in the next verse, "I will behold Thy face," etc. He speaks of himself as quite an exception, a rare case amid the common throng. But these are the happiest men after all. David's heart was set on God. "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance. I have a goodly heritage." He meant that not one of them was so happy as he. See David's secret of happiness. 1. "I will behold Thy face in righteousness." Yes, the first secret of a happy life is to get right with God. I know many of you feel this to be true. Then surrender yourselves to Him now. It will introduce us to a new and most blessed experience, As that thoughtful and devout French believer, Lacordaire, wrote, speaking of his own conversion, "He who has never known such a time has not fully realised life. Once a real Christian, the world did not vanish before my eyes; it rather assumed nobler proportions, as I myself did. I began to see therein a sufferer needing help; a mighty misfortune resulting from all the sorrows of ages past and to come: and I could imagine nothing comparable to the happiness of ministering to it, with the help of the Cross and the Gospel of Christ." 2. "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness." No doubt the notion of the resurrection is mainly meant here. But we may take the awaking as telling of each morning's awakening, and of a prospect which will satisfy your soul. Oh, tell me, have your eyelids ever opened with the earthly dawn, and found you saying, with the first moments of returning consciousness, "I am satisfied"? Rather, have not care, and depression, and a feeling of life's monotony weighed down your own spirit, as another day called you forth to its duty and routine? Ah, you want something nobler than the prospect of gain to give a sparkle and a beauty to life, and to make the heart truly glad; and that nobler thing is the prospect of being like God. This is the prospect that cheers a true Christian, "We know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (J. Thain Davidson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. WEB: from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.