Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 20– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“In the evening, do not withhold your hand.”

—Ecclesiastes 11:6

In the evening portion of the day, opportunities are plentiful. We return home from our labor, and the zealous soul-winner finds time to tell others of the love of Jesus. Do I have nothing to do for Jesus in the evening? If I don’t, then let me withhold my hand no longer from his service, for there is much to do! Jesus gave both his hands to the nails; how can I keep back one of mine from his blessed work? Night and day he toiled and prayed for me; how can I give a single hour to the pampering of my flesh? Up, idle heart; stretch out your hand to work, or lift it up to pray! Heaven and hell work tirelessly, so let me do the same.

The evening of life has its demands. Life is short! It consists of the morning of vigor and the evening of decay. Life is so brief that no man can afford to lose a day. It has been said that if a king should bring us a heap of gold and invite us to take as much as we can in one day, we should make a long day of it! We should begin early in the morning, and in the evening we should not stop working. To win the hearts of men is the most noble work we can do; how is it that we withdraw from it so easily?

Some enjoy a long evening of healthy old age, and, if such be my case, let me use my talents to the last hour to serve my blessed and faithful Lord. By his grace I will die working for him, laying down my responsibilities only when I lay down my body. Age may instruct the young, cheer the faint, and encourage the despondent; if evening has less of vigorous heat, it should have more of calm wisdom; therefore, in the evening, I will not withhold my hand. [M&E]