Mark 10:29

MULTUM IN PARVO

‘For My sake.’

Mark 10:29

Here indeed is multum in parvo. Here is the concentrated essence of religion. Here is a terse compendium of piety. Here are big thoughts in three little words.

I. The words are unique.—Read Moses and David and all the prophets of the Old Testament, and add all the Apostles and Evangelists in the New, and then tell me when did they ever say, ‘For my sake’?

II. The reason is not far to seek.—Christ has done what no one else has done. Pointing to Calvary, He can say, ‘Do this, do that, “for My sake.” ’ Christ excites human hearts as a friend or as a lover does. He rules them through their love.

III. Have some special work of which you can say, ‘I will do this for Christ’s sake.’ The work you and I can do may be very small, but let us do it for Christ’s sake. Let us not aim at being flaunting hollyhocks or tiger-lilies. It is enough that we are violets, and throw sweetness round us. I like the margin in the Revised Version of Matthew 21:28: ‘ Child, go work to-day in the vineyard.’ Therefore none are too young or too weak to serve Christ, if only they have a good will.

IV. These three words make secular things sacred.—You may go to your farm or to your merchandise; you may sing songs, or paint pictures, or build houses, or make shoes, or heal bodies, and all these things become sacred if they are done for the love of Christ—‘for My sake.’

—Rev. F. Harper.

Illustrations

(1) ‘A poor man passing a fortress saw a Russian soldier on guard one terribly cold night, and took off his coat and gave it to the soldier, saying, “I shall soon be home and warm, and you will be out here all night.” The poor man who gave the coat to the soldier was soon after dying, and in his dream saw Christ, and said, “O my Lord, you have my old coat on.” “Yes,” said Christ, “this is the one you lent Me on that cold night by the fortress.” “For My sake.” ’

(2) ‘Young men of wealth or talent forsake home and friends and all in order to preach Jesus Christ in India, China, Japan, or Africa. Henry Martyn leaves his books, David Livingstone his loom, Mackay the engineering shed, Charles Studd the bar, and Stanley Smith fresh from the University crew; all these, and myriads more, of whom the world is not worthy, have gone forth for life or death; and here again the only explanation is—“For My sake.” ’