September 27

A faithful man who can find? - Proverbs 20:6.

WE have here an intimation of the rareness of consistency. Who can find a man faithful, first, In his civil concerns? How do men run down and undervalue the article they mean to buy, and enhance the value of what they mean to sell! What deceit, equivocation, perjury, fraud, is practised between man and man!

Secondly, In his friendship. The true friend loveth at all times. But “confidence in an unfaithful friend, in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint.” He who attempts to eat with the one or to walk with the other would find it useless and painful. Job, David, and Paul found it so; and how was it with the Saviour himself? He suffered in all points like unto us; his disciples all “forsook him and fled.”

Thirdly, To his trusts. We are all stewards; and “it is required of stewards that a man be found faithful.” We are to consider all our endowments in the nature of a trust, all of which are to be employed for Him who conferred them upon us. Riches! Oh, what a trust is wealth! and how difficult to spend it as becometh Christians! Time! what a jewel! And the Scripture tells us to “redeem the time.” Authority! what a trust is this! Some are placed over families, and are faithless to their trust unless they “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Some are servants; well, and these are stewards, and are to be faithful to their employers, not only not purloining, (this is only half,) but not wasting; and also showing all good fidelity, that they may “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

Fourthly, To his convictions. Few are so hardened as not to have many of these. God only knows what many do with them. Some they assassinate, some they check, some they starve, some they put off, saying, “Go thy way for this time.”

Fifthly, To his religious professions. How many there are to whom the Saviour says, “Why call ye me Lord, and do not the things which I have commanded?” Why do ye assume the name of Christ and not depart from iniquity? A Christian is never more useful than when he avoids inconsistencies. But in considering the inconsistencies of others, we may push the matter too far and become censorious. There are many faithful men, and their number is increasing, and “the Lord add unto them, how many soever there be, an hundredfold.” And they are as excellent as they are rare. They have defects and blemishes; but even now “their rejoicing,” not their glorying, “is the testimony of a good conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity they have their conversation in the world.” Such men are likely to rise in the esteem of those around them; but if not, if men should overlook them, God has his eye upon them; if they are now beclouded, they shall soon shine in the firmament of God.

As the stars sparkle in the heavens, so do the promises of Scripture shine upon them:-“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”