Bible Times 96

  Wisdom for a Man’s Self There was once a man named Eliab who lived in a prosperous town surrounded by vineyards, olive trees, and fields of grain. He was known as a capable man. He worked hard, spoke confidently, and was determined to make something of his life. Whenever people praised him, Eliab smiled. Whenever someone questioned him, he became defensive. And whenever another man succeeded where he had failed, Eliab quietly felt that something had been taken away from him. He did not think of himself as proud. He simply believed that he knew what was best. One morning, Eliab went to the marketplace and saw an old carpenter sitting beneath a tree. The carpenter had spent many years making furniture, doors, yokes, and tools. His hands were rough, his clothes were simple, and his words were few. Beside him stood a beautifully finished wooden chest. Eliab examined it carefully. “You have made a fine chest,” he said. The carpenter nodded. “But the wood could ...