Is there any professed Christian who does not relish the idea? To such
an one I would say, Your condition is by no means enviable. You deny
yourself all true happiness. If you do not delight in the thought of
being God's steward; of holding not only property, but body, soul and
spirit at God's control, then you know not what true luxury is. There is
pleasure in doing good; there is a luxury in entire consecration to God.
The pleasures of this earth are empty, vain and fleeting; but the
pleasure of doing good is real, substantial and enduring. The pleasure
of doing good is the joy of angels; it is the thrill of delight which
pervades the soul of Jesus; it is the happiness of the eternal God. In
not wishing to be God's steward, you deny yourself this luxury; you
refuse angels' food and feed on husks. O, there is a richness of holy
joy in yielding up all to God, and holding ourselves as waiting servants
to do his will. This fullness of bliss you foolishly spurn from you,
and turn away to the "beggarly elements of the world." Do you feel that
the principles of stewardship contained in the Bible are too
strict--that too entire a devotement is required of you? Angels do not
think so. Redeemed saints do not think so. The more entire the
consecration, the more perfect the bliss. In heaven devotement is
perfect, and joy of course unalloyed. Blot out this spirit of
consecration, you blot out all true happiness on earth; you annihilate
heaven.
But it is not only a luxury, but _an honor_ to be the stewards of God.
What honor greater than that of continuing the work which Jesus
commenced; of being employed in the immense business of saving a ruined
race? What work more glorious than that of being the instruments of
peopling heaven? What employment more noble than to rescue immortal
souls from endless agonies, and to raise them to eternal joys; to take
their feet from the sides of the burning lake, and to plant them on the
firm pavement of heaven; to rescue victims from eternal burnings, and to
place them as gems in the diadem of God? Would not Gabriel feel himself
honored with a work so noble and glorious? Were a presidency or a
kingdom offered you, spurn it and be wise; but contemn not the glory of
being God's stewards.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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