The Honored Servant

The general rule is that service brings reward. The man tended the fig tree, and it bore him fruit: faithful service usually brings its recompense. Masters, if at all worthy of their position, will honor those servants who do their duty to them.

I. CHRIST IS OUR MASTER.

1. Our sole master. We serve others, that we may serve him: we de not divide our service. “One is your master, even Christ.”

2. Our choice Master. There is not such another in the universe.

3. Our chosen Master. We cheerfully take his yoke: to serve him is to us a kingdom. “I love my master:” Exodus 21:5.

4. Our gracious Master: bearing with our faults, cheering us when faint, aiding us when weary, tending us in sickness, instructing us with patience, promising a great reward, etc.

5. Our life Master. Our ear is bored to his door-post: we are his to all eternity.

II. OUR BUSINESS IS TO SERVE HIM.

1. Expressed by the sense of “keeping the fig tree.” We are to see to our Lord as a good body-servant watches over his master.

   • Remaining with him. Never quitting his side, or getting out of communion with him.
   • Defending him. Allowing none to speak against him, or to injure his honor while we have a tongue in our heads.
   • Guarding his interests. Making his cause our own, his business our business.
   • Cherishing his family. Loving the least of them, and laboring for the good of all.
   • Striving for his objects. Consecrating ourselves to carry out the grand purposes of our Lord, and laying aside everything which would hinder us in this one pursuit.

2. Expressed by the words “waits on his master.”

   • Waiting his word. “Speak, Lord; for your servant hears:” 1 Samuel 3:9. Psalm 85:8.
   • Seeking his smile. “Make your face to shine upon your servant:” Psalm 31:16.
   • Depending upon him for strength. “Give your strength unto your servant:” Psalm 86:16.
   • Expecting the fulfillment of his promises. “Remember the word unto your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope:” Psalm 119:49.
   • Consecrated to his service,—“body, soul, and spirit.” Having no private ends. 1 Chronicles 12:18.
   • Acquiescent in his will. Ready either to suffer or to labor as he may appoint. Luke 17:7–10.
   • The contrary of this is
   • Self-seeking. Lusting after honor, wealth, ease, pleasure.
   • Self-guiding: doing your own will, and yet pretending to serve the Lord.
   • Self-applauding: robbing our Lord of the glory which belongs to him alone.

III. OUR SERVICE WILL BRING HONOR.

1. Among your fellow-servants here below.

2. Even among enemies, who will be forced to admire sincerity and fidelity.

3. From our Lord, who will give us a sweet sense of acceptance even here below.

4. At the judgment-day, before the assembled universe.

5. Throughout eternity, among angels and glorified spirits.

Let us grieve that we have not served him better.

Let us repent if we have not served him at all.

Let us pray him to receive us into his service this day.

Concerning The Master

How sweetly does My Master sound! My Master!

As ambergris leaves a rich scent

Unto the taster:

So do these words a sweet content,

An oriental fragrancy, My Master.

—George Herbert.

“Two aged ministers met one Saturday at a station in Wales as they were going to preach in their respective places on Sunday. ‘I hope,’ said Mr. Harris, of Merthyr, to Mr. Powell, of Cardiff, ‘I hope the Great Master will give you his face tomorrow.’ ‘Well, if he does not,’ replied Mr. Powell, ‘I will speak well of him behind his back.’ ”

Rutherford, speaking of how his Lord encouraged him with sweet fellowship while he was serving him, says in his quaint way, “When my Master sends me on his errands, he often gives me a bawbee for myself”; by which he meant that as sure as ever God employed him he gave him a penny for reward, as we do to boys who go upon our errands.

An old highlander, Hugh Chisholm, was one of the personal attendants of Prince Charles in his wanderings. Lord Monboddo was much attached to this interesting old man, and once proposed to introduce him to his table at dinner, along with some friends of more exalted rank. On mentioning the scheme to Mr. Colquhoun Grant, one of the proposed party, that gentleman started a number of objections, on the score that poor Chisholm would be embarrassed and uncomfortable in a scene so unusual to him, while some others would feel offended at having the company of a man of mean rank forced upon them. Monboddo heard all Mr. Grant’s objections, and then assuming a lofty tone, exclaimed: “Let me relieve you, Mr. Grant: Hugh Chisholm has been in better company than either yours or mine!” The conscience-stricken Jacobin had not another word to say.—Memoir of Robert Chambers.

There will be a resurrection of credits, as well as of bodies. We’ll have glory enough by-and-bye.—Richard Sibbes.

A dog which follows anybody and everybody belongs to no one, and no one cares for it. The more it shows its devotion to its master the greater is the man’s attachment to it. In domestic service we should not care to keep a body-servant who spent half his time in waiting upon another employer.

Old and faithful servants grow to look upon all their master’s property as their own. One such said, “Here comes our carriage, and there are our dear children coming home from school!” Our Lord Jesus loves to see us feel a fellowship—a community of interests with himself. He makes such service to be its own reward, and adds Heaven besides. He will not cast off his old servants, but he will grant them to be with him in his glory, as they have been with him in his humiliation.