WHAT a monstrous bean this is," I said, pointing to a large pod still clinging to some drooping vines in Aunt Stella's back yard.
"Yes," she agreed, "I don't know the name of them, but I think the seed was brought from Switzerland. Here, I'll give you this pod to keep for seed in the garden at home. Wait, here's another one; I hardly think the frost has damaged them yet. They are tender and delicious, with hardly any strings either."
I took special care to see that the beans were tucked away in my suitcase to bring home. And so it was, that several months later when Uncle Jon, who took great interest in gardening, came to pay us a visit, I brought out the shriveled bean pods to see if he could tell me the name of them. His curiosity was aroused, because he had never seen such beans either.
"Here," I said, "you take this one, and we'll both plant some, and see what they do."
When planted the next spring, they reminded me of the Jack and the Beanstalk story. How they did grow! They should have had poles to climb on, but in the rush of spring work, no poles were forthcoming. I propped them up "temporarily" on broom handles and sticks; but they soon topped them, and were growing back down their own stems. They rambled along the ground, and then along the fence. Cows pasturing on the other side were particularly fond of them. We enjoyed a few servings, and I gleaned a good supply to plant again the next year, but on the whole my bean patch was not a glowing success.
On the other hand Uncle Jon wrote that his beans had climbed ten feet high, and he had to climb a stepladder to pick them! He had all he wanted, kept the neighbors supplied, and had some left over to sell.
In Luke's Gospel chapter 20 we read the parable of the certain nobleman who went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. He called his ten servants and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, "Occupy till I come."
Each of these servants was entrusted with a like portion to use profitably. One gained ten times as much as he started with; another, five times as much; and one, sad to say, did not even try to use his. It was to his great loss, for he lost even that which he had, and it was given to the man that had gained the ten pounds.
The Lord has given to each of us a life, a mouth to speak, hands to work with, ears to hear, and eyes to read His Word. If we are saved, He wants us to be lights in a dark world, and to use our time and means for Him. Are we careless or indifferent how we use these talents? Let us take fresh courage and bestir ourselves, while it is yet today, for soon He will return and the opportunities will be forever past!
This spring as I looked down the neat rows of beans, and checked over the closely strung patch to see that each vine would have support, I was glad that I had spoken in time for the men to get the poles up, and that I had been persistent in getting the wire and string ready in time for the first tendrils to twine around. Diligence and real interest made the difference.
We read in Proverbs 13:44The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. (Proverbs 13:4) that "The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing." We would all like to hear the Lord say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" in that day, but let us remember to "redeem the time" now. Have we spoken to our friends about eternity? Have we tried to support the weak in faith, and encourage ones that are discouraged in the way? Charity begins at home. Have we been patient and helpful to brothers and sisters in ways that are pleasing to the Lord? Many small things that escape even the eyes of mother and father are written down in His book of remembrance.
Messages of the Love of God 2/9/1958