Matthew 25: 40.
Our Lord's Acceptance of Our Service.
by George Goodman
“Ye have done it unto me" (Matt. 25: 40).
In one of his lectures to his students, Mr. C. H. Spurgeon describes what he calls "the minister's fainting-fits"—the times of discouragement and disheartenment that come over those who are zealous for the Lord.
We have an example in the case of Elijah, when under the juniper tree, he prayed to die. How touching the cry of that mighty man of God! "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers." A sense of failure and of the uselessness of all his efforts seemed for a time to crush his spirit.
We find the same thing in the New Testament. Paul is pressed beyond measure, so that he despairs even of life. John Mark returns to his home wearied. We who serve the Lord, all know something of these things. At such times the question comes to us: ‘After all, is my service appreciated of Him to whom it is rendered? Does He deign to notice it? Can it be of any value in His eyes?’
Now the Lord has not left this question of our hearts in the weary days, unanswered. More than once, He spoke words of encouragement to those who served Him and gave them to understand that their devotion was a thing that He specially cherished. Not that He would have us think that we had a right to demand recognition and reward. No! He is faithful in reminding us that even in this matter so well-pleasing to Him, we are nevertheless debtors and objects alone of grace. "When ye shall have done all . . . say, “We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do." (Luke 17: 10). Could we render ten thousand times our best in devoted service, we should still be overwhelmingly in debt to that grace which found and saved us through the sacrifice of Calvary. Nevertheless, the Lord is not unrighteousness to forget the labor of love shown to His name, and it is no small joy to us to feel and know that He condescends to accept our service.
He shows that this is so—
I. By Accepting All We Do as Done unto Himself.
“Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me.” Could we bear this in mind, it would lighten and brighten many a weary hour. Robert Chapman once visited a Christian shoemaker, and after watching him at his work for a while, said, “If you had to make a pair of shoes for the Lord Jesus, dear brother, what kind of shoes would they be?” “Ah,” was the reply, “they would be of the very best material I could find and of the finest workmanship.” “Then,” said Mr. Chapman, “there is a poor saint of His who is needing a pair of shoes, and I have come to ask you to make them for him.” It is said that the poor saint was well served with boots that day. We could scarcely have asked a greater reward than this, that He should accept every kindness shown, as done unto Himself.
II. By Never Allowing Any to Be Discouraged.
The pride of man has ever an unsympathetic word ready for feeble efforts. "Send her away, for she crieth after us." No! The Lord sends no one away who cries after Him. She received her desire. Blind Bartimaeus was charged to hold his peace; but the Lord stood still and commanded him to be called, and Bartimaeus was blind no longer. The mothers who brought their children to Jesus, were rebuked by the disciples, but the Lord said, "Suffer the little children to come," and blessed them. "Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name . . . and we forbade him" (Mark 9: 38). But the Lord would not suffer the unknown worker to be rebuked—“Forbid him not; for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part." So, whether seeker or worker, the Lord will not have any discouraged.
We are sure of sympathetic consideration and know that under no circumstances will our efforts be despised or lightly esteemed. This is a strong stimulant for the faint heart.
III. By Valuing It, Not for Its Extent, but According to the Devotion Shown.
"She hath done what she could." It was not much she could do. A few tears, a box of precious ointment; but He called it "a good work," and said it was "on me." It should be spoken of in all the world for all time. Such is the estimate He has of lowly service. The widow who put in her two mites gave "more than them all," for it was "all her living." How much did not matter; the fact that a heart was found to give Him all, was acceptable to Him. Our service is valued, not for the quantity, nor even the quality, for it is little and poor at the best; but for the love in it, and in this, we can be extravagant, for a small service may be rich in devotion.
IV. By Promising a Reward out of All Proportion to the Work Accomplished.
"Every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren . . . for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold" (Matt. 9: 29). In Mark 10: 30, we are told that this hundredfold is "now in this time." Surely this is good interest on our investment. It works out at 10,000% (100x100, for every 100). How shall we think of this promise? No doubt in some measure it is literally true. The one who forsook “home” has in His service a hundred homes thrown open to receive him, and having left dear ones, has been welcomed in many hearts for the Lord's sake. But one would not in any other sense, desire a literal fulfilment. Numbers and quantity are poor value, but when Elkanah said to Hannah, "Am not I better to thee than ten sons?" he struck the true note. Do we not find in Christ, ten thousand per cent, for all the little sacrifices His service has cost us?
It is recorded of an old saint that once the Lord appeared to him and asked him what reward he desired for his labors. He replied, “Nothing but Thyself, Lord." This is our abundant reward—to know Him better, to enjoy the communications of His love, even the fellowship of His sufferings. The first mention of "reward" in Scripture, sounds the same note. It is where God says to Abraham, "I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward." This is the ten thousand per cent reward.
And at last, the "Weil done, good and faithful servant."
“Oh, grant us Lord like precious faith
With them that went before,
That we may keep our garments white
Until the victory o'er;
"Nor lose our crown, nor faint before
The race is fully run,
When we shall stand before Thy face,
And hear Thee say, —“Well done!"
GEO. GOODMAN. —North Africa.
“The Alliance Weekly” April 1918