Matthew 25:21, “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.”
This is the text that is referred to when preachers talk about receiving the “well done” of God. It is a commendation of the servant who is both good and faithful. “Good” refers to the inward heart of God’s servant, and “faithful” describes the consistency of his obedience to the Lord and service for his Master.
The Lord gives us all a “few things” to be over. A few gifts and abilities, a few responsibilities and opportunities, a few tasks and a few humble positions. Everyone has a calling of some kind. A parent, a spouse, a church member, an employee, or whatever. Everyone has some duty or other that as Christians we must consistently perform with good and sincere hearts. We are to do it all as unto Christ.
The being over a few things however, thankfully, is not forever. Our day of responsibility will end soon. The future is to enter into the “joy of the Lord.” This implies that here on earth saints do not yet possess the fullness of undisturbed joy in God. Heaven is the place where there is unbroken joy and no sorrow whatsoever. (Revelation 7:17), “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
In the journey of life we must keep in mind this joy that is “set before us.” It keeps us going, even as it kept our Saviour going. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
On this fulness of future joy, the Puritan, Thomas Watson (1620-1686) wrote.
“This then may serve for a ground of comfort to every soul distressed with the tedious bitterness of this life; for short sorrow here, we shall have eternal joy; for a little hunger, an eternal banquet; for light sickness and affliction, everlasting health and salvation; for a little imprisonment, endless liberty; for disgrace, glory. Instead of the wicked who oppress and afflict them, they shall have the angels and saints to comfort and solace them, instead of Satan to torment and tempt them, they shall have Jesus to ravish and affect them. Joseph's prison shall be turned into a palace; Daniel's lions' den into the presence of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; the three children's hot fiery furnace, into the new Jerusalem of pure gold; David's Gath, into the tabernacle of the living God.”
Older
Top
