Faithfulness in service highlights steadfastness and loyalty in fulfilling one’s duties for God and others, reflecting Christ’s own devoted example. Christian preaching often uses images like badges of honor, daily work, and committed business practices to illustrate how faithful service honors God and strengthens spiritual courage (Colossians 3:23; Galatians 6:9).
An elderly woman's faithful teaching in a storm leads to one soul won and eternal reward.
An old woman who was seventy-five years old had a Sabbath-school two miles away among the mountains. One Sunday there came a terrible storm of rain, and she thought at first she would not go that day, but then she thought, "What if some one should go and not find me there?" Then she put on her waterproof, and took her umbrella and overshoes, and away she went through the storm, two miles away, to the Sabbath-school in the mountains. When she got there she found one solitary young man, and taught him the best she knew how all the afternoon. She never saw him again, and I don't know but the old woman thought her Sabbath-school had been a failure. That week the young man enlisted in the army, and in a year or two after the old woman got a letter from the soldier thanking her for going through the storm that Sunday. This young man thought that stormy day he would just go and see if the old woman was in earnest, and if she cared enough about souls to go through the rain. He found she came and taught him as carefully as if she was teaching the whole school, and God made that the occasion of winning the young man to Christ. When he lay dying in a hospital he sent the message to the old woman that he would meet her in heaven. Was it not a glorious thing that she did not get discouraged because she had but one Sunday-school scholar? Be willing to work with one.
A soldier's faithful service is his true badge of honor and distinction.
The Army of the Potomac provided themselves with badges peculiar to each division, which custom did not prevail among the Western armies. A veteran soldier was challenged by the usual "Halt!" and asked for his regiment, division, and corps, by a soldier from the East. Then he was asked, "What is your corps-badge?" Turning around and slapping his cartridge-box, the brave soldier replied, "D'ye see that? A cartridge-box with a U. S. on a brass plate, and forty rounds in the cartridge-box, and sixty rounds in our pockets: that's the badge of the Fifteenth, that come from Vicksburg to help ye fight Chattanooga." His record was distinction enough.
Keeping Scripture close strengthens faithfulness and courage in daily duties.
There was a drummer-boy in the Grand Army of the Potomac, who loved Jesus. He lost his Bible, which he regarded as a letter from his beloved Saviour to himself, and was very fond of reading. He began to make a Bible for himself. He had formerly been a Sabbath-school boy, and his head was well filled with choice Scripture-texts. These texts he began to write on his drum, one after another, until it was written all over. Uncle Sam never had such a drum in his army before. Yet I don't suppose those texts hurt its sound a bit; and I'm quite sure that the young drummer was none the less faithful to his duty for having the word of the Lord before him when he plied his drumsticks, and marched into the smoke of battle. Dr. Wise.
Serving in business for Christ brings true happiness and purpose.
Many years ago, happening to be in South Wales, I made the acquaintance of a Welsh gentleman. He was then a landed proprietor, living in his own mansion, and in very comfortable circumstances. He had been, before, carrying on an extensive business in a large town. By the death of a relative, he had unexpectedly come into possession of this property. After considering whether he should retire from business, he made up his mind he should still continue to carry it on, though not for himself, but for Christ. I could not help being struck with the gleesomeness of a holy mind which lighted up his countenance, when he said, "I never knew before what real happiness was.
Formerly I wrought as a master to earn a livelihood for myself; but now I am carrying on the same work as diligently as if for myself, and even more so: but it is now for Christ, and every half-penny of profits is handed over to the treasury of the Lord; and I feel that the smile of my Saviour rests upon me." I think that is an example worthy of being imitated. Dr. Duff.
Godly Christians should continue doing good works faithfully until the end of life.
As burning candles do give light until they be consumed, so, likewise, godly Christians must be occupied in doing of good so long as they shall live.
— Coxodray
Faithfully performing daily duties honors Christ when He returns.
The Rev. T. Carter, one of the Puritan ministers, once came unexpectedly behind one of his acquaintances, who was busily engaged in his trade as a tanner. He gave him a pleasant tap on the shoulder. The good man looked behind him, started, and said, "Sir, I am ashamed that you should find me thus employed." Mr. Carter replied, "Let Christ, when he cometh, find me so doing." — "What!" said the good man, "doing this?" — "Yes," said Mr. Carter: "faithfully performing the duties of my calling." Cheever.
Industry and diligence, not magic, produce excellence and success in any calling.
Pliny relates that Cressinus gathered so much more wealth from a small piece of ground than his neighbors could from a much larger piece, they accused him of witchcraft. To defend himself, he brought into court his servants, with their instruments of labor, and said, "My witchcrafts, O ye Romans! are these. These servants and these tools are all the witchcraft that I know of. I say not to my servants, 'Go do this or do that,' but, 'Come, let us go do it! and so the work goes on.'" Industry and diligence make any man excellent and glorious and chief in any condition, calling, or profession. Spencer
Esquimaux Christians risk lives to attend communion, showing sincere faith and commitment.
"We can truly say," observes a Moravian missionary, "that among the very considerable number of Esquimaux who live with us, we know of few who are not seriously desirous to profit by what they hear, and to experience and enjoy themselves, that which they see their countrymen possess. Our communicants give us pleasure; for it is the wish of their
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Prominent leaders actively supported and honored the Sabbath school movement.
Chief Justice Marshall and the late Judge Washington, of the Supreme Court of the United States, were both active in the Sabbath school cause. At the age of seventy, the chief justice regarded it as his high honor to walk through the city of Richmond at the head of a Sunday school procession.
A dying teacher doubts his usefulness but led a pupil to Christ through faithful service.
Mr. M. was for many years a pious and indefatigable Sunday school teacher. It pleased God to call him to suffer severe affliction, and to an early death. During his long affliction, though it was painful even to see him walk, he went to his class, nor would he resign as long as he could possibly reach the school. "It was my happiness," says a writer in the 'Teacher's Magazine,' "to visit him during his trying illness; and the calmness of his mind under affliction, and his triumphant departure, I never shall forget. Nor shall I cease to remember another circumstance. Turning to me, and with something like despondency, he said, 'Well, I believe I never was useful as a Sunday school teacher.'
"Some short time after his death, I visited a Sunday school in a small town some distance from that in which Mr. M. had lived. I soon recognized among the teachers one who had been a Sunday scholar; I conversed with him and found that he was a professor of religion, and a member of a Christian church in that town. I congratulated him upon his employment, and inquired by what means he had been led to love the Lord Jesus Christ? He replied, 'The advice which my teacher again and again gave me, led me to reflection and to prayer, and I hope was the means of leading me to Christ.' And who was that teacher? He replied, 'Mr. M.' Yes, that same dear friend, who, upon a dying bed, said, he believed he had never been useful as a Sunday school teacher."
President Harrison valued Sabbath school teaching even before leading the nation.
President Harrison taught, for several years, in a humble Sabbath school on the banks of the Ohio. The Sabbath before he left home for Washington, to assume the duties of chief magistrate of the nation, he met his Bible class as usual. And his last counsel on the subject to his gardener, at Washington, it may be hoped, will never be forgotten by the nation. When advised to keep a dog to protect his fruit, he replied—"Rather set a Sunday school teacher to take care of the boys."
A faithful servant’s careful stewardship greatly benefits his master and family.
Philip Melancthon, who is universally known as one of the reformers, was highly esteemed for his great generosity. Indeed his friends were astonished at his liberality, and wondered how, with his small means, he could afford to give so much in charity. It appears to have been principally owing to the care and good management of an excellent and faithful servant named John, a native of Sweden. The whole duty of provisioning the family was intrusted to this domestic, whose care, assiduity and prudence amply justified the unbounded confidence reposed in him. He made the concerns of the family his own, avoiding all needless expenditure, and watching with a jealous eye his master's property. He was also the first instructor of the children during their infancy. John grew old in his master's service, and expired in his house amidst the affectionate regrets of the whole family. During a service of thirty-four years, how much usefulness was effected by honest John, and by his master through his instrumentality! Melanethon invited the students of the university to attend the funeral of his faithful servant, delivered an oration over his grave, and composed a Latin epitaph for his tombstone, of which the following is a translation:—
"Here, at a distance from his native land,
Came honest John, at Philip's first command;
Companion of his exile, doubly dear,
Who in a servant found a friend sincere;
And more than friend—a man of faith and prayer,
Residueous soother of his master's care.
Here to the worms his lifeless body's given,
But his immortal soul sees God in heaven"
A good worker is valuable, but church members must actively serve in the church.
Henry Ward Beecher was once about to take a ride behind a horse which he had hired from a livery stable. He regarded the horse admiringly, and remarked: “That is a fine-looking animal. Is he as good as he looks?” The owner replied: “Mr. Beecher, that horse will work in any place you put him, and do all that any horse can do.” The preacher eyed the horse still more admiringly, and then remarked: “I wish to goodness he was a member of my church!” (Text.)
— LOUIS ALBERT BANKS
Unseen faithful workers influence others and deserve recognition for their service.
See INJUSTICE.
INCONSPICUOUS WORKERS
Most of this world’s work is done by the people who will never be known. To every worthy worker, however, a mede of credit is due, and sometimes it finds recognition, as in the instance here recorded:
An officer who was at West Point a generation ago tells of the influence Miss Susan Warner had on the boys of the Academy in the ’70’s and ’80’s. “The Wide, Wide World,” by Miss Warner, was a popular book then with the cadets’ mothers, who would urge their sons to visit Constitution Island and write home a description of the author. So many boys would visit the Island. Every Sunday afternoon the Warner sisters would send their man-of-all-work in a boat to the Point to bring over a load of cadets. The boys would gather around Miss Susan as she sat on the lawn and listen to her read the Scriptures and explain them in a bright, cheerful view of religion and life. After the talks would come a treat of tea and home-made gingerbread. She was very delicate and frail and often her talks would completely exhaust her. She kept up correspondence with many of the visiting cadets long after they had become distinguished officers. Her last letter to one just before her death had a pathos known only to her cadet friends. It read: “I no longer have the strength to cross the river to meet the boys, and the superintendent we now have will not allow them to come to me, so my usefulness with them seems to be at an end.”
Effort without progress is like pedaling a fixed bicycle—work without forward movement.
Too much of human effort consists of merely going through motions without ever getting forward:
Bicycle races without leaving the starting-place, which are said to be the latest craze in places of amusement in Paris, are described in _Popular Mechanics_. Says this paper: “The wheel is fixt in a frame fastened to the floor. When the rider begins to pedal, a belt from the rear wheel drives a small electrical generator. The current thus produced is conducted to a motor on wheels and carrying a flag. The track on which the motor travels is marked in distances, and each foot of track requires as much work by the rider as would have carried the bicycle one mile had it been free to run as under ordinary conditions of use.” (Text.)
Negroes show faithfulness and fruitfulness in education, professions, and community leadership.
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Since the time the shackles were struck off the slaves, the negroes of the United States have had to their credit two Senators and seventeen Congressmen, besides scores of representatives in the diplomatic service and in official life, municipal, State and national. Negroes have won championships as pedestrians, bicycle-riders, and prize-fighters. As evidence of the intellectual endeavor and capacity of the race there are to-day (1908) 1,200,000 black children in the public schools, 30,000 in the higher institutions of learning, and 200 in northern and European colleges and universities. Over 2,000 have been graduated from colleges, and the professions show 30,000 school-teachers and professors, 2,000 lawyers, 1,500 doctors, dentists and pharmacists, and over 23,000 ministers of the gospel. In addition to all this, the negroes have taken out 500 patents, have published 400 books, composed numerous songs, and now own and edit 12 magazines and 300 newspapers. In a material way the negroes have also made noticeable progress. Besides many industrial establishments, they own and manage 26 banks, own 2½ per cent. of the total valuation of the farm property, produce six per cent. of the total farm products of the United States, and own $900,000,000 worth of real and personal property.--WILLIAM A. SINCLAIR, “The Aftermath of Slavery.”
Unseen faithful service is valuable and will be recognized by the Master at judgment.
A story is told of a poor woman who, by reason of her poverty, was kept from many a service for her Lord which she feared He might require at her hands--and she was dying. She was saying to her young daughter, who stood near the bed, that she regretted her fruitless life, and was wishing that she might have more to show the Master when she met Him face to face. “Mother,” sobbed the daughter, “show Him your fingers.” Her hands were calloused with work she had done unselfishly for others in her Master’s name. (Text.)
Unseen spiritual work can bear beautiful fruit beyond our immediate view or reward.
Dr. Buchanan, of Randolph-Macon College, tells of a lady who planted a rare rose-bush, worked around it, fertilized it, watered it, and yet saw no reward of her labors. But presently it was found that shoots from this bush had pushed through to the other side of the wall and were blooming in splendid beauty there. “Work on, undiscovered ones,” he says. “In the unseen world you may find your unseen roses in full bloom, scenting the air with fragrance.” (Text.)
Neglecting small tasks can forfeit one’s place, though every part is vital in God’s work.
A king desired a fine mosaic picture. The master-artist divided the stones from which it was to be constructed among his workmen, giving to each his own design. One artist considered his fragment too small to notice, and threw away the stone intrusted to him, saying, “It is of no worth.” When all the work was brought together, his stone was found to be the most important of all, the very centerpiece. He lost his place, and was branded upon the forehead with the words, “Of no worth,” as a penalty for his neglect.
Even limited physical ability can serve God effectively through faithful missionary work.
“SHUT-IN” MISSIONARY WORK
In 1891, Miss Mary Ashton, a “shut-in,” zealous for the spreading of the gospel in foreign lands, and desirous to do her share, began the sale of ribbon bookmarks and leaflets on which were printed Scripture texts and choice poems. With a few helpers, the sales and her income increased from year to year, so that, at her death in 1899, she was supporting a Bible woman in China, another in India, and four missionaries in those countries.
After her death, Miss Theodosia Haine, of Warren, O., also a member of the “Shut-in” Society, volunteered to undertake Miss Ashton’s work. This she is successfully doing and much literature is being disseminated through her efforts. The profits resulting from the sale of Miss Haine’s work go to the Mary Ashton Fund of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.--_Record of Christian Work._
Even lesser-known faithful servants fulfill their mission and bless others in their time.
If a man can not be a great genius, is it worth his while to be a little one? Some learned men say not. Of the poets who flourished and were famous a hundred years ago, how many are known now? Of all the bright volumes that brought fame to their authors and made the booksellers of old wealthy, how many can we find upon the shelves of the bookstores to-day? Only a few. And yet, their authors, lauded by friends and flattered by reviews, threw all their souls into their songs, and fondly dreamed of earthly immortality. The fittest survive, and the world has sorted them out with unerring judgment. From the good it has taken the best, and we are thankful. But these little geniuses--did they live their lives in vain because they are forgotten now? Was all their music meaningless, and did the world never miss it when their harps were silent? They fulfilled their mission; their songs went home to human hearts and quickened them with feeling. They sang as sang the birds--brief, tender songs that made the world glad for a day; and tho their names are now unknown, their graves unmarked, their work has not been unrewarded. So let the little geniuses be of good cheer; their footsteps may not go echoing down the ages, but they may sound very pleasantly in the pathways of to-day. If they feel that they must sing, let no man say them nay; there will be ears to listen, voices to applaud, and hearts to feel. The world needs the low, soft notes of the humble singer, the homely harpings of the little poet, as a rest from the deep bass of the bards sublime.--Atlanta _Constitution_.
Visible marks of hardship often show a life of faithful service and character development.
Admiration is sometimes exprest about the peaceful faces of nuns, sisters of charity, and similar devotees of the secluded life. But if you polish a piece of stone and keep it in a cabinet it will be smooth. The same stone set into a foundation will soon show marks of the weather. So marks on the face, lines of care, traces of sorrow, usually show that one has been doing something; has been of some use; has been developing character.
