even under Laban, unjust and exacting though Laban was.  Joseph won his way to the front, though an exile and a slave, for he made himself indispensable in prison, and in the kingdom. “Seest thou a man diligent in business? he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men.”  And because this is a Divine law, it prevails in higher spheres also.  If a Christian uses, in the service of his heavenly Master, the gifts he possesses, faith in God, knowledge of truth, power in prayer, persuasive speech—­his five talents will become ten, or his two will gain other two. “To him that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance.”

3.  It may be said that talent and diligence combined do not always win success, and so far as this world is concerned, it is true.  Possibly Jeroboam would never have come to the front if Solomon had not happened to notice him.  But if we read the interviews which Ahijah the prophet had with Jeroboam, and with his mother, we shall learn to recognise the control of God in this also.

If God over-rules anything he must over-rule everything, because what appears to be the most trivial incident, often has the most far-reaching results on human character and destiny.  Trifles are often turning-points in one’s history.  A casual word spoken in our favour may bring about the introduction which leads to a happy marriage, or to a prosperous business career.  It may not have been known to us at the time, nor thought of again by the friend who spoke about us, but back of his friendly utterance God was.  In life we are not infrequently like a passenger on board ship, who chats to those about him, but pays no regard to the wheel, or to the seaman who controls it, still less to the officer who gives the man his instructions; and yet the turning of that wheel, in this direction or in that, involves safety, or wreck.  God keeps control—­unseen—­over the lives of men, and it was more than a lucky chance which led Solomon to notice the smart, stalwart worker at Millo, and raise him to a higher post.

The wise king showed his wisdom in rewarding as he did, fidelity and diligence.  It is because this is often not done in offices and warehouses that there is so little mutual goodwill between servants and masters.  An employer will often treat his people as mere “hands,” who are to sell his goods and do his bidding, but directly work is slack, he will turn them adrift without scruple or ruth; or if they remain for years in his service, will give no increase of wage or salary proportioned to capacity and diligence.  A Christian employer, at least, should follow a more excellent way, and advance a diligent servant, not because he cannot be done without, or because it is for the good of the firm to retain his services, but because his promotion is right and richly deserved.  It would be a woful thing if God treated us exactly as we treat our fellows.