R e w a r d o f s e r v i c e -- CHRISTIAN SERVICE - Chapter 27 |
| Christian Service - - Table of Contents
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Priceless
It is not a vain thing to serve God. There is a priceless reward for those who devote their life to His service.—Testimonies for the Church 4:107. { ChS 266.1}
Every sacrifice that is made in His ministry will be recompensed according to “the exceeding riches of His grace.”—The Desire of Ages, 249. { ChS 266.2}
Our reward for working with Christ in this world is the greater power and wider privilege of working with Him in the world to come.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 361. { ChS 266.3} |
B a s i s of v a l u a t i o n |
The value of service to God is measured by the spirit in which it is rendered, rather than by the length of time spent in labor.—Testimonies for the Church 9:74. { ChS 266.4}
Their success in advancement in the divine life depends upon the improvement of the talents lent them. Their future reward will be proportioned to the integrity and earnestness with which they serve the Master.—The Review and Herald, March 1, 1887. { ChS 266.5} |
The Lord has a great work to be done, and He will bequeath the most in the future life to those who do the most faithful, willing service in the present life.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 330. { ChS 266.6}
Those who came into the vineyard at the eleventh hour were thankful for an opportunity to work. Their hearts were full of gratitude to the one who had accepted them; and when at the close of the day the householder paid them for a full day’s work, they were greatly surprised. They knew they had not earned such wages. And the kindness expressed in the countenance of their employer filled them with joy. They never forgot the goodness of the householder, or the generous compensation they had received. { ChS 266.7}
Thus it is with the sinner, who, knowing his unworthiness, has entered the Master’s vineyard at the eleventh hour. His time of service seems so short, he feels that he is undeserving of reward; but he is filled with joy that God has accepted him at all. He works with a humble, trusting spirit, thankful for the privilege of being a coworker with Christ. This spirit God delights to honor.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 397, 398. { ChS 267.1} |
| He who has appointed “to every man his work,” according to his ability, will never let the faithful performance of duty go unrewarded. Every act of loyalty and faith will be crowned with special tokens of God’s favor and approbation. To every worker is given the promise, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”—Testimonies for the Church 5:395. { ChS 267.2} |
However short our service or humble our work, if in simple faith we follow Christ, we shall not be disappointed of the reward. That which even the greatest and wisest cannot earn, the weakest and most humble may receive. Heaven’s golden gate opens not to the self-exalted. It is not lifted up to the proud in spirit. But the everlasting portals will open wide to the trembling touch of a little child. Blessed will be the recompense of grace to those who have wrought for God in the simplicity of faith and love.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 404. { ChS 267.3}
The brows of those who do this work will wear the crown of sacrifice. But they will receive their reward.—Testimonies for the Church 6:348. { ChS 267.4} |
The brows of those who do this work will wear the crown of sacrifice. But they will receive their reward.—Testimonies for the Church 6:348. { ChS 267.4}
To every worker for God this thought should be a stimulus and an encouragement. In this life our work for God often seems to be almost fruitless. Our efforts to do good may be earnest and persevering, yet we may not be permitted to witness their results. To us the effort may seem to be lost. But the Saviour assures us that our work is noted in heaven, and that the recompense cannot fail.—Testimonies for the Church 6:305. { ChS 267.5} |
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Every act, every deed of justice and mercy and benevolence, makes music in heaven. The Father from His throne beholds and numbers the performer of them with His most precious treasures. “And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, when I make up My jewels.” Every merciful act to the needy or the suffering is as though done to Jesus. Whoever succors the poor, or sympathizes with the afflicted and oppressed, and befriends the orphan, brings himself into a more close relationship to Jesus.—The Review and Herald, August 16, 1881. { ChS 268.1} |
| Christ regards all acts of mercy, benevolence, and thoughtful consideration for the unfortunate, the blind, the lame, the sick, the widow, and the orphan, as done to Himself; and these works are preserved in the heavenly records, and will be rewarded.—Testimonies for the Church 3:512, 513. { ChS 268.2} |
| The Lord is good. He is merciful and tender-hearted. He is acquainted with every one of His children. He knows just what each one of us is doing. He knows just how much credit to give to each one. Will you not lay down your credit list and your condemnation list, and leave God to do His own work? You will be given the crown of glory if you will attend to the work that God has given you.—The Southern Watchman, May 14, 1903. { ChS 268.3} |
| The Lord desires us to rest in Him without a question as to our measure of reward. When Christ abides in the soul, the thought of reward is not uppermost. This is not the motive that actuates our service.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 398. { ChS 268.4} |
| From garrets, from hovels, from dungeons, from scaffolds, from mountains and deserts, from the caves of the earth and the caverns of the sea, Christ will gather His children to Himself. On earth they have been destitute, afflicted, and tormented. Millions have gone down to the grave loaded with infamy because they refused to yield to the deceptive claims of Satan. By human tribunals the children of God have been adjudged the vilest criminals. But the day is near when “God is judge Himself.” Then the decisions of earth shall be reversed. “The rebuke of His people shall He take away.” White robes will be given to every one of them. And “they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, 179, 180. { ChS 268.5} |
Present Reward
p r e s e n t r e w a r d |
| Happiness—Those who give their lives to Christlike ministry know the meaning of true happiness. Their interests and their prayers reach far beyond self. They themselves are growing as they try to help others. They become familiar with the largest plans, the most stirring enterprises, and how can they but grow when they place themselves in the divine channel of light and blessing? Such ones receive wisdom from heaven. They become more and more identified with Christ in all His plans. There is no opportunity for spiritual stagnation.—Testimonies for the Church 9:42. { ChS 269.1} |
| The church that engages successfully in this work, is a happy church. That man or that woman whose soul is drawn out in compassion and love for the erring, and who labors to bring them to the fold of the great Shepherd, is engaged in a blessed work. And, oh, what a soul-enrapturing thought, that when one sinner is thus reclaimed, there is more joy in heaven than over ninety and nine just persons!—Testimonies for the Church 2:22. { ChS 269.2} |
Nothing is drudgery to the one who submits to the will of God. “Doing it unto the Lord” is a thought that throws a charm over whatever work God gives him to do.—Testimonies for the Church 9:150. { ChS 269.3}
The Christian laborer knows no drudgery in his heaven-appointed work. He enters into the joy of His Lord in seeing souls emancipated from the slavery of sin; and this joy repays him for every self-denial.—The Southern Watchman, April 2, 1903. { ChS 269.4} |
| To become a toiler, to continue patiently in well-doing which calls for self-denying labor, is a glorious work, which Heaven smiles upon.—Testimonies for the Church 2:24. { ChS 269.5} |
Christ delights to take apparently hopeless material, those whom Satan has debased and through whom he has worked and make them the subjects of His grace.... He makes His children His agents in the accomplishment of his work, and in its success, even in this life, they find a precious reward.—Testimonies for the Church 6:308, 309. { ChS 269.6}
Blessing—Every effort made for Christ will react in blessing upon ourselves.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 354. { ChS 270.1} |
Every duty performed, every sacrifice made in the name of Jesus, brings an exceeding great reward. In the very act of duty, God speaks, and gives His blessing.—Testimonies for the Church 4:145. { ChS 270.2}
We should live in this world to win souls to the Saviour. If we injure others, we injure ourselves also. If we bless others, we also bless ourselves; for the influence of every good deed is reflected upon our own hearts.—Testimonies for the Church 4:72. { ChS 270.3} |
Every ray of light shed upon others will be reflected upon our own hearts. Every kind and sympathizing word spoken to the sorrowful, every act to relieve the oppressed, and every gift to supply the necessities of our fellow beings, given or done with an eye to God’s glory, will result in blessings to the giver. Those who are thus working are obeying a law of heaven, and will receive the approval of God.—Testimonies for the Church 4:56. { ChS 270.4}
es the will, it nerves the spirit for whatever may befall.—Testimonies for the Church 6:305, 306. { ChS 270.5} |
| While the great final reward is given at Christ’s coming, true-hearted service for God brings a reward, even in this life. Obstacles, opposition, and bitter, heartbreaking discouragements, the worker will have to meet. He may not see the fruit of his toil. But in face of all this he finds in his labor a blessed recompense. All who surrender themselves to God in unselfish service for humanity are in cooperation with the Lord of glory. This thought sweetens all toil, it brac |
| Health—Doing good is an excellent remedy for disease. Those who engage in the work are invited to call upon God, and He has pledged Himself to answer them. Their soul shall be satisfied in drouth, and they shall be like a watered garden, whose waters fail not.—Testimonies for the Church 2:29. { ChS 270.6} |
| In fellowship with God, with Christ, and with holy angels, they are surrounded with a heavenly atmosphere, an atmosphere that brings health to the body, vigor to the intellect, and joy to the soul.—Testimonies for the Church 6:306. { ChS 271.1} |
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The pleasure of doing good to others imparts a glow to the feelings which flashes through the nerves, quickens the circulation of the blood, and induces mental and physical health.—Testimonies for the Church 4:56. { ChS 271.2}
Strength—Let a strong man be shut away from labor, and he becomes feeble. That church or those persons who shut themselves away from bearing burdens for others, who shut themselves up to themselves, will soon suffer spiritual feebleness. It is labor that keeps the strong man strong. And spiritual labor, toil, and burden-bearing, is what will give strength to the church of Christ.—Testimonies for the Church 2:22. { ChS 271.3}
Peace—In doing for others, a sweet satisfaction will be experienced, an inward peace which will be a sufficient reward. When actuated by a high and noble desire to do others good, they will find true happiness in a faithful discharge of life’s manifold duties. This will bring more than an earthly reward; for every faithful, unselfish performance of duty is noticed by the angels, and shines in the life record.—Testimonies for the Church 2:132. { ChS 271.4}
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