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The Great Ship and the Little Helm

Turn to James, iii. 4, and you will read as follows: "Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, withersoever the governor listeth." Now, look at the picture, and you will see the "helm" of which St. James speaks. Observe the fact that it is very small compared to the great size of the ship. The masts are tall and the body of the vessel seems large, but the "helm" is "very small."

What power it exerts upon that huge ship! Here we learn the importance of little things. We read that the "Conies are but a feeble folk," Prov. xxx. 26; and we also read of the "little foxes that spoil the vines." Song ii. 15. The "tongue is a little member and boasteth great things." Jas. iii. 5. These expressions show the importance of little things. A clever Dutchman amused himself one day by cutting some letters of the alphabet on the bark of a tree. It was a very small thing, but out of that little thing came the art of printing. Little BLACKBOARD ILLUSTRATIONS, &c. 243 things often produce great results. "Who hath despised the day of small things?" Zech. iv. 10. But observe that while this helm is so very small, it controls the movements of the vessel. To this fact St. James here calls special attention. He reminds us that these "great" ships are "turned about" by the helm. "Turned about." They are guided and kept in their proper course by the helm. The vessel would drift along with the wind and tide if left to itself, but the pilot's hand is on the helm and that guides the ship to its destination. We are all out on the stormy ocean of life. We shall drift with the tide of evil influences and drift into ruin, unless we are guided in our movements. Let God be our Guide, and the promise is, "He shall direct thy paths." Prov. iii. 6. Said David, "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel." Ps. lxxiii. 24. The ship never refuses to "mind" the helm. So let us follow our Divine Guide, and we shall reach the eternal harbor.

Then we will sing: "Drop the anchor, furl the sail, We are safe within the vale."