05.05 The labour not in vain
V. THE LABOUR NOT IN VAIN
If but only if we are thus trading zealously and eagerly with our talents, “hazarding fairly for Christ,” then even we can venture sometimes to look forward to the great words of the Lord of Life, words in which life on this scene finds its crown and consummation, words whose very sound is music in the march of duty “Well done, good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Even here, as bodily exercise sends a glow of health and delight into all the limbs, so resolute and brave-hearted service brings into the very midst of toil and stress a deep sense of joy the joy of one who knows that what he does is infinitely worth doing.
If there is any worker in the world who can sing a song of courage it is the fellow-worker with Christ; for he, above all men, knows that “his labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Yet, after all, these moments of joy are but foretastes of that which is to come rather, airs cheering and inspiriting, reaching us in the plain from the high lands where the joy of God is the abiding atmosphere. When the time comes, it is into that joy of his Lord that the faithful servant is ushered, the joy of “heaven,” of the life where God’s will is eternally done, His purpose eternally fulfilled, His rest eternally assured. As Leighton beautifully said:* “It is but little we can receive here, some drops of joy that enter into us; but there ive shall enter into joy, as vessels put into a sea of happiness.” It is a thought which we can only dare to frame for ourselves in the pauses of resolute and unceasing service; but when it rises before us, the thrill of expectancy which it arouses sends * Quoted by Trench, p. 278, into all the labour a spirit at once of ardour and of peace. The other day I received a letter from a stalwart labourer in dockyard and church, whose terse words I would pass on to my readers as a summary of all that makes work worth doing and toil worth bearing “Cheer up, dear sir, there is rest ahead: we shall soon hear the ’Come up’ and the Well done.’ “
TAGS: [Parables]