"Well done, my good and faithful servant..."

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me, that I am not a brilliant theologian. I’m not an eloquent writer, or even a great speaker. I love to read, write, and speak, but I’m sure I’ll never be quoted as saying anything so profound that it needs to be preserved in history.

While I admire men who can effortlessly compose flowery phrases and articulate profound thoughts, I want to be something different than that. I want to learn how to be a man who loves and obeys God with all his heart, loves his family above his job, and is willing to open his mouth and risk it all on the front lines of the great rescue mission of souls.

Although the Apostle Paul certainly wrote some of the most beautiful letters humanity has ever read, he said of himself, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Cor. 2:1-5)

And again Paul reminded his Christian friends in Corinth that God often chooses seemingly foolish ways and very ordinary people to accomplish his most amazing plans. “…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe… Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are…” (1 Cor. 1:21-28)

So I’m learning to take whatever abilities, talents, and opportunities God has given me, and do the most I can with them for His glory. If Jesus died to save my unsaved friends and family from Hell, the least I can do is love them enough to tell them about Him and what He did for them.

I may never be admired by Hollywood for my “foolish” decisions to follow Jesus Christ, but Jesus wasn’t admired by the popular culture shapers either. I don’t think God wants us to be admired by men for how brilliantly we speak, write, think, or work. I don’t think He’s even keeping count of how many people we lead to the Lord. I believe “Well done, my good and faithful servant” is reserved for those who understand what God has given them (the blessings of this life, the priceless message of eternal life, and the time to share it), and then use all they have (talents, abilities, relationships, and money) to put God first in everything, make family members more important than hobbies and worldly pleasures, and have enough compassion for the lost to share the message of the gospel with every unsaved person they can.

The reward of the Christian life is not this world’s applause for being brilliant, but Heaven’s commendation for being faithful in the circumstances God has put you in.

I don’t want to just write and talk about this; I want to live it. If I don’t, I’m playing the worst role of my life: “The Hypocrite.” And if you wonder whether or not you are really living what you say you believe, ask a family member. They can often easily see the truth about us when we cannot. What or who would they say is most important to you? May God bless you in your efforts to put Him first.