YOU will not need to take a second look at our picture today, dear children, to be able to tell what these boys are doing, for you well know what marbles are. Perhaps there is not a boy who will look at this picture who has not played marbles. But now, let me ask you a question. Did you ever “cheat” when you played with others? It is so easy to take some little advantage; so easy to do what would make you angry if the same thing were done by the boy with whom you are playing. It may be holding your hand in a forbidden position, or getting a little too close, or in some other way transgressing the rules of the game. In your eagerness to win you forget that there is something of vastly greater importance than getting the game.
You forget that God’s eye is upon you, and that He not only sees the dishonest movement of the hand, but He looks also into your heart and sees there that the wish to win is so strong that almost Any means will be taken to accomplish it. Oh! has it been thus with any of you, dear boys, in your games of marble, and other games?
Do not forget that you can hide nothing from God. You will have to give account to Him for all. And even before man it will be greatly your gain to be honest in all your ways as well as your words. Far better for you to lose every game than to win through dishonesty. Which would you rather have said of you— “That boy is honest; I can trust him,” or, “That boy is sharp, and can win a game, but he is trickey, I cannot trust him”?
Another thing I would have you think of: now while you are young, your character is forming, and according to the old adage, “As the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.” And according to God’s true word, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” (Prov. 20:1111Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. (Proverbs 20:11).)
ML 04/30/1916