I SAW a bill in a shop window the other day with the heading “A boy wanted,” which set me thinking. Two Scripture texts came to my mind in connection with it, and they were these: “No man can serve two masters,” — “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”
Now there are three things that a boy is anxious to know when he goes after a situation: Who is to be his master? What kind of work he will be expected to perform? and what wages he will receive? If the boy be wise he will reject the situation unless all these questions are answered satisfactorily.
“Choose you this day whom ye will serve” is the appeal made to you. There is “A boy wanted,” and I am able to assure you that the Master, and His work, and His wages are perfect. The Lord Jesus is the best of masters, and the work He requires of His servants is obedience, and He says, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” The Lord gives joy here and forever. Hear His own words: “I give unto My sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hands.”
I am anxious that this “Good Master” should become yours—why? because if He is not your Master, then I know who is, even the devil. “How do you know that?” say you. Because the word of God tells me that “no man can serve two masters.” Therefore everyone is serving Christ or Satan.
Christ, when on earth, said of those who were not His disciples, “Ye are of your father, the devil, and his works ye do.” Yes, the devil is at present the master of every unbeliever.
You will acknowledge that he is anything but a kind master. How can you serve him? He is pleased and delighted when he sees boys taking that which is not their own, when he hears them swear, or utter untruths, and do as the children of disobedience.
Well, and what wages does he pay? He promises many nice things, but gives none. Ah, how sad to think that tens of thousands after serving Satan many years, to their own shame and misery, should at last find, when, alas, it is too late, that Satan has nothing to give them whatever, and that their portion is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, with the deepest poverty—even the need of a drop of water. How vastly different the two masters, and what their respective servants receive!
Jesus has given me peace, pardon, and eternal life, in place of doubt, uncertainty, and a fearful looking for of judgment, and He has given these blessed things to me in His own grace.
Listen to words of the Son of God—He who has proved His deep love for sinners by giving up His life’s blood on Calvary. “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and twill give you rest.” — “Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.”
“A boy is wanted” by Jesus, and each of you to whom I am speaking is he to whom these words apply. C. G. D.