Talents Great and Small

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”-Matthew 25:21, 23

Here comes Whitefield, the man that stood before twenty thousand people at a time to preach the gospel, who in England, Scotland, Ireland, and America, has testified the truth of God, and who could count his converts by thousands, even with one sermon! Here he comes, the man that endured persecution and scorn and yet was not moved-the man of whom the world was not worthy, who lived for his fellowmen and died at last for their cause. Stand by, angels, and admire, while the Master takes him by the hand and says, “Well done, well done, good and faithful servant: enter into the joy of your Lord.” See how free grace honors the man whom it enabled to do valiantly!

Hark! Who is this that comes here? A poor, thin-looking creature, who on earth was a consumptive. There was a hectic flush now and then upon her cheek, and she lay three long years upon her bed of sickness. Was she a prince’s daughter, for it seems heaven is making much stir about her? No, she was a poor girl who earned her living by her needle, and she worked herself to death! Stitch, stitch, stitch, from morning to night! Here she comes. She went prematurely to her grave, but she is coming, like a shock of fully ripe corn, into heaven. Her Master says, “Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful in a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

She takes her place by the side of Whitefield. Ask what she ever did, and you find out that she used to live in some back garret, down some dark alley in London. There used to be another poor girl who came to work with her. That poor girl was a gay and volatile creature when she first came to work with her. This consumptive child told her about Christ. They used to creep out evenings to go to chapel or to church together when she was well enough. It was hard at first to get the other one to go, but she used to press her lovingly. When the girl went wild a little, she never gave her up. She used to say, “O Jane, I wish you loved the Savior.” When Jane was not there, she used to pray for her. When she was there, she prayed with her. Now and then while stitching away, she read a page out of the Bible to her, for poor Jane could not read. With many tears she tried to tell her about Jesus, who loved her and gave Himself for her. At last, after many days of hard persuasion, many hours of sad disappointment, and many nights of sleepless, tearful prayer, she lived to see the girl profess her love to Christ.

She left her and took sick. There she lay until she was taken to the hospital, where she died. While she was in the hospital, she used to have a few tracts which she gave to those who came to see her. She would try, if she could, to get the women to come around, and she would give them a tract. When she first went into the hospital, if she could creep out of bed, she would get by the side of one who was dying, and the nurse used to let her do it. At last she became too ill. Then she would ask a poor woman on the other side of the ward, who was getting better and was leaving, if she would come and read a chapter to her. It was not that she wanted her to read to her on her own account, but for the other’s sake. She thought it might strike her heart while she was reading it. At last this poor girl died and fell asleep in Jesus. This poor, consumptive needlewoman had said to her, “Well done.” What more could an archangel have said to her?

See then, the Master’s commendation, and the last reward will be equal to all men who have used their talents well. If there are degrees in glory, they will not be distributed according to our talents, but according to our faithfulness in using them. As to whether there are degrees or not, I know not. But this I do know: he that does his Lord’s will, shall have said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Spurgeon, R. C. H. Words of Wisdom

Mark of Divine Approval

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: forwhen he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,which the Lord hath promisedto them that love him.”—James 1:12
Yes, he is blessed while he is enduring the trial. No eye can see this till he has been anointed with heavenly eyesalve. But he must endure it, and neither rebel against God, nor turn aside from his integrity. He is blessed who has gone through the fire and has not been consumed as a counterfeit.

When the test is over, then comes the hallmark of divine approval, “the crown of life.” As if the Lord said, “Let him live; he has been weighed in the balances, and he is not found wanting.” Life is the reward: not mere being—but holy, happy, true existence—the realization of the divine purpose concerning us. Already a higher form of spiritual life and enjoyment crowns those who have safely passed through fiercest trials of faith and love.

The Lord hath promised the crown of life to those who love Him. Only lovers of the Lord will hold out in the hour of trial; the rest will either sink or sulk, or slink back to the world. Come, my heart, dost thou love thy Lord? Truly? Deeply? Wholly? Then that love will be tried, but many waters will not quench it, neither will the floods drown it. Lord, let thy love nourish mine to the end.

Spurgeon, C.  Faith’s Checkbook

Sufferers Make Strong Believers

“It is good for a man that he bearthe yoke in his youth.”—Lamentations 3:27

This is as good as a promise. It has been good, it is good, and it will be good for me to bear the yoke.

Early in life I had to feel the weight of conviction, and ever since it has proved a soul-enriching burden. Should I have loved the gospel so well had I not learned by deep experience the need of salvation by grace? Jabez was more honorable than his brethren because his mother bare him with sorrow, and those who suffer much in being born unto God make strong believers in sovereign grace.

The yoke of censure is an irksome one, but it prepares a man for future honor. He is not fit to be a leader who has not run the gauntlet of contempt. Praise intoxicates if it be not preceded by abuse. Men who rise to eminence without a struggle usually fall into dishonor.
The yoke of affliction, disappointment, and excessive labor is by no means to be sought for; but when the Lord lays it on us in our youth, it frequently develops a character which glorifies God and blesses the Church.

Come, my soul, bow thy neck; take up thy cross. It was good for thee when young; it will not harm thee now. For Jesus’ sake, shoulder it cheerfully.

Spurgeon, C.  Faith’s Checkbook

To a Soul Seeking Jesus—No. VI.

Go Up, Leaning on Jesus.

I HAVE HEARD OF YOU from—, and have been praying for you, that your eye may rest on Jesus, and that your soul may lie in perfect peace under His blood shed for the sins of many. I have been thanking my Father, too, for dealing so bountifully with you. “He is the Father of mercies, and the God of all comforts.” I will give you a sweet verse to meditate upon: “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon the beloved?” (Song of Solomon 8:5). Do you think this is your position?

Truly this world is a wilderness if you have seen it rightly. It is a place of guilt and shame. Every natural heart is a wilderness—a dead place without a drop of living water; and then all natural hearts put together make up a wilderness world. The whole world lieth in wickedness. There are few that know and love Jesus, and these few are panting to get more of the living water. But if you have truly fled to Jesus, you are coming up from the wilderness. Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.”

Have you found Jesus truly? Do you feel willing to be all vile, all hell–deserving in yourself, and to let God’s dear Son be all your shield and righteousness? Oh! make sure of this. Never mind what man thinks of you. I would not give a straw for the opinions of men, as to whether I was safe or no. It is not what man thinks of us that will cover us on the judgment day. Oh no! You must be in Jesus, sitting at His feet, allowing Him to wash your stains away, allowing Him to enwrap your guilty soul in divine righteousness.

If you were lying at the bottom of the sea, no eye could see your deformities: so when the infinite ocean of Immanuel’s righteousness flows over the soul, you are swallowed up as it were in Christ. Your blackness is never seen, only His fairness; and thus a God of truth can say, “Behold thou art fair; behold thou art fair, my love. Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee” (Song of Solomon 4:1–7). Keep this always in memory; and when guilt comes on the conscience, as it will, lie down again beneath the righteousness of Jesus. Never lose sight of this.

Jesus must be seen by the Father instead of our guilty soul. It is no change in our black soul that is to be our covering. You must leave self, and stand in your Elder. Hide behind Him. Let the Father’s eye fall on Him, not on you. This is what Jesus wants. He died to be a shelter for such as you. This is what the Father wants; for He is not willing that any should perish. If you are seen by the Father a naked, guilty sinner, you must die; there is no help for it.

But if Jesus appear for you—if you hide in His wounds like the dove in the clefts of the rock, and under His snowy raiment—then the Father Himself loveth you, and now you are coming up from the wilderness. Every hour that strikes, that is an hour less between you and glory. Oh! do not grieve to part with the world if you are in Christ: an hour with Christ will make up for all your griefs and pains. Half an hour in the presence of our God will make us forget a lifetime of agony. “Leaning on her beloved!”

Is this the position of your soul ? Do you feel empty, weak, and helpless; and do you see Him mighty to save, able to save to the uttermost? “His legs are like pillars of marble.” This is Christ’s glory, that He justifies sinners who have no righteousness, and sanctifies souls that have no inborn holiness. Let Jesus bear your whole weight. Remember, He loves to be the only support of the soul. He is a jealous Savior. He wants to be entirely trusted.

There is nothing that you can possibly need but you will find it in Him. “All my springs are in thee.” Do you want righteousness? He has the spirit of a weaned child to give you (Psalms 131). Do you want love? He is the fountain of love: all the promises of God in Him are yea and in Him amen. I am sure, if you get a glimpse of Him, you would lay your head in His breast and die there. May the Spirit anoint your eyes to see Him more and more, and soften your heart to lean on Him. Those that have leaned on Him through the wilderness shall sit with Him on the throne (Revelation. 3:21). Farewell, dear soul! the Lord feed you sweetly, as He feeds the flowers, by silent drops of dew.

Bonar, A. A., & McCheyne, R. . Memoir and Remains of R.M. McCheyne.

To a Soul Seeking Jesus—No. V.

Be Found in Christ.
December 8, 1841

I SEND YOU another line to tell you of Him who is altogether lovely. I have a very dear boy in my parish, who is dying just now. He said to me the other day, “I have just been feeding for some days upon the words you gave me, ‘His seas are like pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold’ (Song of Solomon 5:15); for (said he)‘ I am sure He is able to carry me and all my sins.’” You may say the same, if your eyes have been opened to see the beauty, fullness, freeness, and compassion of the Lord Jesus. Nothing but the hand of God can open your eyes to see your lost condition as it truly is. Flesh and blood cannot reveal Him unto you, but my Father. Oh! call upon Him to do this for you. A spiritual discovery of yourself and of Jesus is better than a million of worlds to you, and to me also.

Remember, you cannot be fair in yourself before God. Song of Solomon 1:6 must be all your prayer: “Look not upon me.” Take yourself at your best moments, you are but a vile worm in Jehovah’s sight, and so am I. Remember, you may be “perfect in Christ Jesus.” Allow yourself to be found in Christ. Oh, what will come of you if you are found in yourself? Where will you appear? You will shrink back, and call on rocks and mountains to fall upon you and cover you. But if you are hiding in Jesus—if your eye and heart are fixed upon His wounds made by our sins—if you are willing to be righteous in His righteousness, to lie down under the stream of His blood, and to be clothed upon with the snowy fleece of the Lamb of God—then God will love you with His whole soul exceedingly. The pure, full love of God streams through the blood and obedience of Jesus to every soul that is lying under them, however vile and wretched in themselves.

Have you tried—have you tasted the holy love of a holy God? Thy love is better than wine. It is better than all creature love or creature enjoyments. Oh! do not live—oh! do not die, out of this sweet, sweet, sin–pardoning, souse comforting love of God! Remember, Jesus is quite willing to gather you under His wings (Matthew 23:37). Put that beyond all doubt. Remember also, the present is your only time to be saved (Ecclesiastes 9:10). There is no believing, no repenting, no conversion in the grave—no minister will speak to you there. This is the time of conversion. We must either gain you now, or lose you forever. Oh, that you would use this little time! Every moment of it is worth a world. Your soul is very dear to me—dearer far to Jesus. Look to Him and you will be saved.

Bonar, A. A., & McCheyne, R. Memoir and Remains of R.M. McCheyne.