Laying Up Treasure in Heavenp
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).
While the disciples were busy aspiring and contending for the highest position in the new kingdom, the Majesty of heaven pointed out their noble mission to serve, exemplifying His own life of self-sacrificing ministry. He said to them: “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Serving, ministering, helping, assisting, waiting upon, benefiting, succoring, promoting, satisfying, supporting, administering - these constitute our privilege and opportunity, much more than a duty. We are reminded that stewardship suggests a faithful use of the talents and gifts entrusted to us, both for our own benefit and the benefit of others; it is not limited by the amount of income we may earn at our job.
The very “stones” that would “cry out” (Luke 19:40) have declared this touching message. In 1936, in a conference at the University of Cambridge, A. E. Housman declared that “the greatest truth ever uttered and the most profound moral discovery of all time were these words of Jesus: ‘He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it’ (Matthew 10:39).”1
Many are plagued with worry and anxiety as they feel that “it is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?” (Malachi 3:14).
“Enoch had been troubled in regard to the dead. It had seemed to him that the righteous and the wicked would go to the dust together, and that this would be their end. He could not see the life of the just beyond the grave. In prophetic vision he was instructed concerning the death of Christ, and was shown His coming in glory, attended by all the holy angels, to ransom His people from the grave.”2
Shortly before his death, Moses went forth “to resign his life into the hands of his Creator. Moses knew that he was to die alone; no earthly friend would be permitted to minister to him in his last hours. There was a mystery and awfulness about the scene before him, from which his heart shrank. The severest trial was his separation from the people of his care and love. . . .
“Notwithstanding all that God had wrought for them, notwithstanding his own prayers and labors, only two of all the adults in the vast army that left Egypt had been found so faithful that they could enter the Promised Land. As Moses reviewed the result of his labors, his life of trial and sacrifice seemed to have been almost in vain.”3
The patriarch David also had difficulty reconciling in his mind the apparent prosperity of the wicked in contrast to the struggles and afflictions faced by those seeking to serve God. (See Psalm 73.)
Peter wondered the same as he questioned Jesus, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” (Matthew 19:27). “Parents and teachers lie down in their last sleep, their lifework seeming to have been wrought in vain.”4
“Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). Let us analyze some inspired declarations:
“It is not the fear of punishment, or the hope of everlasting reward, that leads the disciples of Christ to follow Him. They behold the Saviour’s matchless love, revealed throughout His pilgrimage on earth, from the manger of Bethlehem to Calvary’s cross, and the sight of Him attracts, it softens and subdues the soul. Love awakens in the heart of the beholders.”5
“The Saviour presents before us the scene of the last judgment when the reward is given. . . . The righteous are represented as wondering what they have done for which they are to be so liberally rewarded. . . . They had been serving Christ in the person of His saints, . . . but they had not had in view the reward they were to receive, and the expectation of it had been no part of the motive that had actuated their service. What they did was done from love to Christ and to their fellowmen, and Christ identifies Himself with suffering humanity. . . .
“In a subordinate sense we should all have respect unto the recompense of the reward. . . .
“There are about us those who have a meek and lowly spirit, the Spirit of Christ, who do many little things to help those around them, and who think nothing of it; they will be astonished at last to find that Christ has noticed the kind word spoken to the disheartened, and taken account of the smallest gift given for the relief of the poor, that cost the giver some self-denial.”6
Moses chose to suffer with the people of God because “he had respect unto the recompense of the reward” (Hebrews 11:26). We can see that the prophecy of Isaiah 53:11 concerning Christ, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied,” had its partial fulfillment when the angel Gabriel brought comfort to Him in Gethsemane:
“In this awful crisis, when everything was at stake, when the mysterious cup trembled in the hand of the sufferer, the heavens opened, a light shone forth amid the stormy darkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty angel who stands in God’s presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came to the side of Christ. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ’s hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father’s love. . . . He pointed Him to the open heavens, telling Him of the souls that would be saved as the result of His sufferings. . . . He told Him that He would see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied.”7
“What sustained the Son of God during His life of toil and sacrifice? He saw the results of the travail of His soul and was satisfied. Looking into eternity, He beheld the happiness of those who through His humiliation had received pardon and everlasting life. His ear caught the shout of the redeemed. He heard the ransomed ones singing the song of Moses and the Lamb.”8
The joy of service is experienced in the very act of benefiting another. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). “Divine wisdom has appointed, in the plan of salvation, the law of action and reaction, making the work of beneficence, in all its branches, twice blessed. He that gives to the needy blesses others, and is blessed himself in a still greater degree.”9
“To Jesus in His agony on the cross there came one gleam of comfort. It was the prayer of the penitent thief. . . .
“Hope is mingled with anguish in his voice as the helpless, dying soul casts himself upon a dying Saviour. ‘Lord, remember me,’ he cries, ‘when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.’
“Quickly the answer came. Soft and melodious the tone, full of love, compassion, and power the words: Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with Me in paradise. . . .
“How grateful then to the Saviour was the utterance of faith and love from the dying thief!”10
“The service rendered in sincerity of heart has great recompense. . . . The faces of men and women who walk and work with God express the peace of heaven. They are surrounded with the atmosphere of heaven. For these souls the kingdom of God has begun. They have Christ’s joy, the joy of being a blessing to humanity.”11
“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
A young medical student was going from door to door, doing colporteur work in a farm community. It was a hot day, and the student knocked on the door of a humble dwelling and waited. . . .
Finally, a little girl cheerfully invited him inside to explain that, unfortunately, her family had no money to buy any books.
Tired, hungry, and thirsty, the colporteur then asked if she might please give him a drink of water. The girl warmly responded by offering not just water, but two cups of fresh milk. Greatly refreshed and thankful for this kindness, the medical student gladly received it, and left with new courage to press on with his work.
Years passed and eventually that young girl ended up with a serious illness which required a delicate emergency surgery in the hospital of that region. A young surgeon was called upon to try to save this precious life. Special attention was given to the case, and the operation proved a success. During her convalescence, the patient was treated with utmost care. Yet a heavy, lingering anxiety burdened her heart - and that was the thought of the enormous medical bill which was sure to come.
Finally the bill arrived with a small, surprising, handwritten inscription: All is paid off by two cups of milk! With deep emotion, the joyful soul could hardly believe the marvelous providence of a merciful God who blesses those who cooperate with Him.
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:38).
“And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14). “Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Malachi 3:18). “With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free” (Ephesians 6:7, 8).
“In this life our work for God often seems to be almost fruitless. Our efforts to do good may be earnest and persevering, yet we may not be permitted to witness their results. To us the effort may seem to be lost. But the Saviour assures us that our work is noted in heaven, and that the recompense cannot fail.”12
“The poor widow who cast her two mites into the Lord’s treasury little knew what she was doing. Her example of self-sacrifice has acted and reacted upon thousands of hearts in every land and in every age. It has brought to the treasury of God gifts from the high and the low, the rich and the poor. It has helped to sustain missions, to establish hospitals, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and preach the gospel to the poor. Multitudes have been blessed through her unselfish deed. And the outworking of all these lines of influence she, in the day of God, will be permitted to see. So with Mary’s precious gift to the Saviour. How many have been inspired to loving service by the memory of that broken alabaster box! And how she will rejoice as she beholds all this!”13
To those who minister in the home, especially to the mothers in Israel, the word of God comes: “The work of wise parents will never be appreciated by the world, but when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, their work will appear as God views it and will be rewarded before men and angels. It will be seen that one child who has been brought up in a faithful way has been a light in the world. It cost tears and anxiety and sleepless nights to oversee the character building of this child, but the work was done wisely, and the parents hear the ‘Well done’ of the Master.”14
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
“How gratefully will the ransomed and glorified ones remember those who were instrumental in their salvation! No one will then regret his self-denying efforts and persevering labors, his patience, forbearance, and earnest heart yearnings for souls that might have been lost had he neglected his duty or become weary in well-doing.”15
“Let your imagination picture the home of the saved, and remember that it will be more glorious than your brightest imagination can portray.”16
“Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it. No finite mind can comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God.”17
“With unutterable love, Jesus welcomes His faithful ones to the joy of their Lord. The Saviour’s joy is in seeing, in the kingdom of glory, the souls that have been saved by His agony and humiliation. And the redeemed will be sharers in His joy, as they behold, among the blessed, those who have been won to Christ through their prayers, their labors, and their loving sacrifice. As they gather about the great white throne, gladness unspeakable will fill their hearts.”18
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward” (Hebrews 10:35).
Beloved brethren and sisters, may the unsearchable depths of the love of Him who came to serve constantly inspire and stimulate us to surrender all that we have and are, at all times and all places, to Him and His service forever. Amen!