Homilist Psalm 104:23 Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening. I. HUMAN LABOUR IS A DIVINE INSTITUTION; AND THEREFORE NON-WORKING IS AN EVIL. 1. Nature does not supply man with what he requires, independent of his own agency. (1) As a mere physical existence, does he not require food, raiment, and a dwelling? But does nature yield these to him as he requires them, either for his physical well-being, or his physical preservation, without his effort? No. (2) As an intellectual being, it is the same. Man must work for the knowledge he requires. (3) As a moral being, having obligations to discharge, spiritual powers to develop, a God to love and serve, he must inevitably perish without labour — agonizing labour. 2. Man is endowed with working powers admirably fitted to get from nature whatever he requires. There is the investigating and planning intellect; and there is the executive hand; and there is the varied impulse of animal appetite; social affections, and progressive aspirations, rising every moment like a tidal force in the soul, pressing the faculties of the mind, and the members of the frame, into action. He is made for the work required. 3. The Bible teaches that human labour is the ordination of Heaven. (1) Non-working is a moral wrong. Inaction, where there is the power of action, is a crime. (2) Non-working is a positive injury. To the individual himself. Muscular inactivity enfeebles the body, mental the intellect, moral the soul. To others. The idle person is a social thief. II. MAN'S LABOUR HAS ITS PROPER LIMITATIONS, AND THEREFORE EXCESSIVE WORK IS AN EVIL. 1. Overwork involves an infringement of the laws of health. The spring will bear so much pressure and no more without danger or ruin. Too much weight will bend the lever and strain the engine. 2. Overwork involves a violation of the claims of mind. Over the door of every room, office, shop, warehouse, manufactory, where excessive labour and long hours prevail, you may write, "Within, are intellects fitted to tread in the footsteps of illustrious sages, explore new regions of truth, and enrich posterity by their discoveries, losing their vision and their vigour; — within, are hearts containing germs of sentiment and wells of sympathy, the sublimest gifts of Heaven, undergoing the terrible process of ossification; — within, are souls that must outlive the stars and yet be young; sacrificed to matter and to mammon." 3. Over-work involves a wrong to humanity in general. The advancement of the race depends upon each individual contributing his part to the general intelligence and virtue — the two great uplifting forces. Society advances by the increase of these Divine elements, and in no other way. Every true thought from every brain, every noble sentiment from every heart, every honest word and deed, serve to augment these elevating forces of the world. But what opportunity have the over-worked men and women of England to do their part in a mission so indispensable and glorious? (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.WEB: Man goes forth to his work, to his labor until the evening. |
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