Matthew 6:19

Old Iron

Bright iron. Ezekiel 27:19.

Rust. Matthew 6:19.

Today we have two texts and they have both come with me to the pulpit. The first is “bright iron,” and here you have a nice, bright, sharp penknife. The other is the enemy of bright iron. Now, of course, bright iron has just one enemy that is “rust,” so here is a bit of old rusty iron that once lived on a trash-heap.

Which of those two things looks best, and which do you think is of most use? There isn't much doubt about the answer, is there? But if you don't take proper care of your penknife it may soon look just like this piece of rusty old iron.

What is it that makes iron rust? Scientists will tell you that it is something in the air that acts upon the surface of the iron, burning or oxidizing it. If there is water present this process takes place more easily, so that if you leave an iron article out of doors on a wet day it will rust much more readily than on a fine day. If you don't take trouble to remove the rust it will gradually eat away the iron.

Now, people as well as iron can rust. They are not meant to rust; they are meant to be bright and useful; but if they will allow the rust to form, and will not take the trouble to remove it, of course all their brightness and usefulness is spoiled.

There are two reasons why rust forms on iron first, want of use, and second, want of care.

1. First, rust forms from want of use. If you lay past an iron or steel article for some time, the chances are you will find it covered with rust when you take it out again. But if you keep on using it, it stays clean and bright. Now it is just like that with the gifts God gives us. He has given us hands to work with, but if we don't employ them, they will become clumsy and useless. He has given us minds to think with, but if we don't cultivate them they will become stupid and dull. He has given us hearts to love and sympathize with, but if we don't use them they will become hard and cold.

One great enemy of usefulness is laziness. Sometimes we think it is very hard to have to go to school and learn difficult lessons. But it is just by learning these hard lessons that we are keeping our minds bright and free from rust. And when we are learning to do anything with our hands we sometimes grow impatient at having to repeat the same thing over and over again, but it is just that drudgery that is making them clever for more difficult work.

I read the other day about a gentleman who was very much interested in a boy. He wanted to help him, so he asked his head gardener to take him into the garden and teach him gardening. Some time after he met the gardener and inquired how his young friend was getting on. “Oh, he's getting on,” replied the gardener; “there he is at his favorite job, and it just suits him exactly chasing the snails off the path!” Now, if we are lazy and won't take pains to learn, the rust will soon grow on us, and rust, you know, clogs wheels and stops progress. If we are idle we shall never get much farther than that lazy snail of a boy who spent his time chasing his brother-snails off the path.

The other great enemy of usefulness is selfishness. You remember the story of the man who had only one talent and who went and hid it in the ground. That man had many faults, but his biggest one was selfishness. He kept his talent all to himself. Now, God endows us all with gifts, and He means us to use them and make the most of them. To some people He gives strength, to some brains, to some wealth, to some just ordinary common sense and a sound body. But, whatever His gifts may be, He means us to use them for the sake of others. They are not really ours to keep: we have them on trust from Him; and if we allow them to grow rusty from want of use then we are abusing His trust.

2. But, second, rust forms from want of care. If you put away your bicycle in the winter, or your skates in the summer, without drying them and rubbing in some grease, you need not expect to take them out again bright and shining. If you leave your bicycle out in the rain for days on end you must look for rust on the handle-bars. And if we don't take preventive measures to keep ourselves bright the ugly red rust of all kinds of faults will grow on us.

When the Great Eastern was laying the big cable across the Atlantic to America she received frequent messages from the shore. At first these messages reached the ship quite clear and distinct, but gradually they grew fainter and fainter. Then they became jumbled and broken, and at last they ceased altogether.

So the men on the ship knew there must be something wrong with the cable, and they hauled it up. They found that a little crack had come on the wire; then rust had got in and eaten away the wire; until at last the crack became too wide for any message to pass. Not until the cable had been mended could any message be sent along.

And so if you have been careless and allowed the rust of selfishness, or ill-temper, or pride to grow and spoil your usefulness you must get it put right. And how shall we get it put right? By taking these faults to God and asking Him for Jesus' sake to forgive them and help us to get the better of them.

Outside a smithy you have often seen bits of old iron old ploughs, old harrows, odds and ends of all kinds all more or less rusty. If you asked the blacksmith what he was going to do with them he would probably tell you that some of the things had been brought to him to sharpen or mend, but others he was going to melt down to make into horseshoes or other useful articles.

Some of us may just need sharpening and polishing to get the rust away, some of us may have to begin all over again. But of one thing we may be sure. If we put ourselves in God's hands, He will do what is best for us, He will turn us out beautiful, spotless “bright iron.”