Beginnings
GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy
Judges
JoshuaJudgesRuth
Kingdoms
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings
Chronicles
1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEsther
Poetry
JobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon
Prophets
IsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel
Minor Prophets
HoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicah
NahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi
Messiah
MatthewMarkLukeJohnActs
Paul's Letters
Romans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians
1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrews
General Letters
James1 Peter2 Peter1 John
2 John3 JohnJude
Revelation
Revelation
Kept for this visit
Notes, starred verses and bookmarks kept while signed out last until this visit ends. Create a free account and everything you keep here moves into it, saved for good.
Create an account Sign in

Morning and Evening

September 20, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"In the evening withhold not thy hand." — Ecclesiastes 11:6 · KJV

In the evening of the day, opportunities are plentiful: men return from their labor, and the zealous soul-winner finds time to spread abroad the love of Jesus. Have I no evening work for Jesus? If not, let me no longer hold back my hand from a service that needs abundant labor. Sinners are perishing for lack of knowledge, and he who loiters may find the hem of his garment crimson with the blood of souls. 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 pampering my flesh with luxurious ease? Up, idle heart! Stretch out your hand to work, or lift it up to pray; heaven and hell are in earnest, so let me be in earnest too, and this evening sow good seed for the Lord my God. The evening of life has its calls as well. Life is so short that a morning of manhood's vigor and an evening of decay make up the whole of it. To some it seems long, but a small coin is a great sum to a poor man. Life is so brief that no man can afford to lose a day. It has been well said that if a great king brought us a great heap of gold and bade us take as much as we could count in a day, we would make a long day of it — beginning early in the morning, and in the evening not withholding our hand; but winning souls is far nobler work, so how is it that we withdraw from it so soon? Some are spared to a long evening of green old age; if that is my case, let me use whatever talents I still keep, and to the last hour serve my blessed and faithful Lord. By His grace I will die in harness, and lay down my charge only when I lay down my body. Age may instruct the young, cheer the faint, and hearten the despondent; if evening has less vigorous heat, it should have more calm wisdom; therefore in the evening I will not withhold my hand.