Christian Activity 2

II. I shall, secondly, consider the MANNER in which this duty should be performed. "Be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."

It is probable that the first two expressions relate to our own personal religion; and contain an exhortation to immoveable steadfastness in the hope of the Gospel. This is a duty very frequently enjoined in the Word of God. Then, said our divine Redeemer, "are you my disciples indeed, if you continue in my word." The meteors that wander through the upper regions of the atmosphere, and to which vulgar language has appropriated the name of falling stars, have their resemblances in the firmament of the Christian church; there also are falling stars; or to elevate the metaphor, there is the comet, transient as it is brilliant.

But "the path of the just is as the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day." No profession that lacks continuance, with whatever splendid qualities for awhile it may be characterized, will issue in eternal life. The sight of an aged disciple, who through a long and varied life has triumphed over all the assaults of earth and hell, is indeed a most gratifying spectacle. A brighter crown of honor is not worn beneath the skies, than his hoary hairs. His sun, before the eyes of admiring Christians, sets with mild and beauteous radiance upon the hemisphere of grace, while angels flock to the brightness of its rising upon the hemisphere of glory.

We shall now consider these expressions in application to the work of the Lord; and I shall observe that our zeal should be characterized—

1. By ABUNDANCE. "Be always abounding." It may be very justly said of some Christians, that they half do everything. This is in direct opposition to the Scripture, which requires us to do everything in the service of God with all our heart, and soul, and strength. Our fruit should not only be excellent in quality, but plenteous in quantity. We are commanded to abound in hope; to be filled with all the fruits of righteousness; to be zealous of good works; and in the text to abound, "to abound always in the work of the Lord."

This expression implies that our exertions should be proportioned to our ability. The parable of the talents is exceedingly instructive; and this among many other ideas seems to be its leading truth, that we are to be a blessing just in proportion as we are blessed. "Unto whom much is given, from them much is required." Proportion is the great rule of man's accountability. The sin of the unprofitable servant did not consist in his having but one talent, but in his neglecting that one; and the commendation of the others rested not simply on the ground of their improvement, but on that of proportionate improvement.

This is a sentiment deserving the attention of the affluent. If they expect the plaudits of the great Judge, they must not only be liberal, but liberal in proportion to their means. Five talents gained by one who already has ten, will scarcely lift us above the rank of unprofitable servants. I am apprehensive that the operation of this sentiment is yet but very feeble in the Christian world. It is forgotten by many that liberality is a comparative term, which derives its meaning not simply from what we give, but giving in ample proportion to our circumstances. That would be munificence in one man which would be stinginess in another. Never was there an instance of greater liberality than that which our Savior witnessed and commended in the poor widow, who, though she cast but two mites into the treasury, gave all she had to give. "Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning His disciples, He said to them, "I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed—all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)

Two inferences may be deduced from this interesting passage. First, that the offerings of the poor to the cause of Christ are exceedingly welcome in his sight. It is encouraging for those who have only pennies, like this poor widow, to bestow, to be assured that even these, if contributed without grudging, shall neither be unnoticed nor unrewarded by the Lord of heaven and earth. Let the poor come forward and claim their station in the armies of the Lord, and their share in the triumphs of his cause. The honor of doing something for the glory of God and the best interests of man is brought down to the level of their circumstances, and is freely offered to their acceptance. If every poor person in the United Kingdoms were to give a penny a week to the cause of Christ, the poor alone could support all the Bible and Missionary Societies in existence twice over. A second inference to be deduced from the narrative of the widow's liberality, is that the rich, to be accepted in their gifts, must give not only of their abundance, but according to it.

If we would always abound in this work, we must eagerly embrace every favorable opportunity for performing it. The advice given by a pagan philosopher to his followers, should be regarded by the disciples of a much higher Master, "Be mindful of opportunities." If we approximate at all to the spirit of the text, we shall, at least so far as our ability extends, hail with delight every fresh object that presents itself to the eye of Christian mercy, and solicits the hand of Christian mercy.

We must also seek out for opportunities of doing good. We must imitate the conduct of our great Master. Did he, in his merciful circuit of Judea, remain in one city, and refuse to proceed, until he had received an importunate request from the next city? Did he always wait until misery was prostrate at his feet? and, to go still higher, did he refuse to undertake the cause of man's redemption, until the combined entreaties of the human race entered into his ears? No! He came to seek that which was lost. "He ever went about doing good." He followed misery into its dark and deep retreats. The objects of religious benevolence resemble the situation of men under the power of insanity, who are unconscious of their malady, and dependent for relief on the unsolicited bounty of spectators.

We must esteem it our privilege, and not our hardship, to do the work of the Lord. When the greatest mass of earthly treasure that was ever collected perhaps in one place since the creation of the world, spread with incalculable profusion before the eyes of David and the design of its being brought together occurred to his thoughts, his soul bounded like a deer upon his mountains. And what was the nature of his joy? Was it avarice exulting at the sight of such boundless affluence? Was it vanity fluttering with delight over the shining heaps with which it was to glitter in the eyes of envious multitudes? Was it ambition rejoicing in its giant sinews for universal conquest? No! Read his own language, as explanatory of his own feelings.

"May You be praised, LORD God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. In Your hand are power and might, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand. For we are foreigners and sojourners in Your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this wealth that we've provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You." (1 Chronicles 29:10-16)

Here is the feeling which should pervade our bosoms. Instead of thinking it hard to be so frequently called upon to contribute towards building the spiritual house, we should feel it, as David did when (according to the received text) he devoted millions to the material temple, one of the greatest privileges we can possibly enjoy. We should account it our chief delight, whatever we possess, to employ it for the glory of God, and adore with gratitude the condescension which deigns to accept the labor of our hands.

What must angels think of our love and gratitude to Christ, when they witness the sullen reluctance with which we sometimes contribute a little of our time, our property, or our ease, to the work of the Lord. "Here, Lord, am I," must they be ready to exclaim, "send me. I court the honor which they consider a hardship. Entrust to my hands the commission of which theirs are so unworthy." Shall we petition heaven by our lukewarmness, or our covetousness, to remove from us the hardship of being the almoners of its bounty? Shall we sue for relief against the work of the Lord as a heavy encumbrance? The servants of the throne will be glad enough to receive it. Let us rather court its continuance by increasing ardor. Let us always abound in the work of the Lord.

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