Our Personal Regard for Himself.
“LET your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.” Such is the position and character to which the Lord exhorts us.
Girded about, an eastern servant is in no idle attitude; his long garments are gathered up about him, and he is ready for his master’s call. The loins are figurative of strength, the girdle bound about them braces up its wearer; so, we may say, a believer, who is braced up in desires for Christ, is practically ready for his Lord’s return.
Every believer is made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, through God’s grace, but practical readiness for the Lord at His coming is dependent on our love to Christ. No believer can wear the girdle for another―each must have his loins girded about for himself. Solemn, then, is the exhortation of our Lord to us each one, “Let your loins be girded about.”
In the East, in tent life, the lights are usually kept burning at night time; in the palace, in its lord’s absence, the lights burning brightly bear witness that a welcome awaits him.
How will the Lord be welcomed by us? What is the light we keep burning for Him? The light is for His eye, let us remember. Does our heart say, “Even so, Lord Jesus,” in response to His word, “Surely I come quickly”? If so, a heart-welcome of ours awaits our Lord at His coming.
The eastern lamp needs constant trimming, frequent filling with oil, frequent tending of the wick; its light cannot be turned up like a gas-burner, as some almost think they can produce their spirituality when occasion may require. Each servant is responsible to his Master for the state of his own lamp. Being filled with the Spirit will alone enable us to maintain the bright witness of welcome to our coming Lord, who says to us, each one, “Let... your lights be burning.”
Love is a good watchman. A hired attendant may fall asleep by a sick bedside: love keeps the eyes of the true nurse open. We may be able to explain the meaning of texts about the Lord’s coming, but it is love to Him that keeps us waiting for Him. The love of a faithful servant is beautiful indeed, even in a house on earth; highly esteemed is this faithful love to Himself by our Lord and Master in heaven. He will never forget it. The truly faithful servant waits and watches for Him, even though He come not till the third watch. Not a moment’s delay by the faithful servant precedes the opening of the door upon his Master’s knock. Ready in heart, ready with welcome, they open unto Him immediately.
“Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching.” Blessed now as His eye rests upon them, blessed by and by, as He shall gird Himself, feast them, and serve them. Let us heed our Master’s words, “Ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.”
Our Regard for His Interests.
Our personal attitude towards our Lord affects our regard for His interests on earth. Those who love Him will do for Him that which He loves to be done. He has made us stewards for Him to give their portion of meat, in due season, to His household, according as He has given to us. The weary need rest; the anxious, peace; the broken-hearted, comfort. Sinners need the gospel; the sick, visiting; the aged and the poor, comforting. Need, deep need, exists everywhere: in city, in village, in the rich man’s house, in the humble cottage. Who, then, is that faithful and wise steward, faithful to the Lord to dispense His gifts, wise towards His household to dispense according to the need of souls? There is little time left in which to serve Him. The Lord is coming: He is very near. Rest and glory are close at hand for His people. Let us live for Christ’s interests while we may; serve Him in serving His people, love Him by caring for what He loves.
Remember, fellow christian, that if you are enriched with the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins, you are favored with the peace thereof, not only for yourself, but as a steward of that grace, that you may feed poor longing souls with His divine word of pardon. If you have been taught by God of Christ in His present glory, and of the Christian’s heavenly position with Him, you are a steward of this grace to convey to others this blessed word of God. Every good thing in God’s gospel, which we possess, we hold as stewards of our Lord for His interest and glory, to communicate thereof to others.
But the meat must be given in due season, for the food a child needs is not that which the young man or the father in Christ requires. The wisdom necessary to a steward is gained by knowing the mind of his lord, and we must needs be frequently with our Lord to receive His instructions relative to His household.
“Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing!”
Ponder over those words. How sweet, how encouraging they are. Labor on, spend and be spent for Christ. You have only one life to give to Christ on earth; let Him have every moment of it. Yet why does the Lord say servant instead of servants? Why does He speak to us in the singular? Is it not that but one here and one there of His servants are truly faithful and wise in the work to which He has called us all?
The Solemn Warning.
Let us also give heed to our Lord’s warning of the servant saying in his heart, “My Lord delayeth His coming.” No change of doc trine in christian truth relative to Christ’s coming is necessary in order to produce this change in the servant’s heart. Decay begin: at the center―by and by the evidences of spiritual decay declare themselves in worldly ways; but He who searches the heart says, “I have against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” If we cease to love Christ fervently, we lose the love of His coming, whatever our doctrines may be, and we become like the sere leaves of autumn, instead of the fresh green growth of spring. Dryness of soul and deadness of soul are closely allied to each other.
Now mark the downward course of faded love to Christ from the starting point. Self asserts itself; the work of the Lord is forsaken; idleness ensues, and mischief follows; jealousy of others fills the heart that once overflowed with love to the Lord’s work; the servant gives up his Lord’s interests and betakes himself to his own, strives with his fellows, and, as a result, begins to beat the men-servants and maidens. Heavy are the blows that fall from the tongues of idle servants, and dark is the picture the Lord portrays of these idle men striving for the mastery, while sinners are perishing and saints are starving.
One more lower step, and mark it well. The idle servant begins to eat and drink; he is self-indulgent; ease and self-pleasing surround him; and his jealous heart wraps itself about in garments of self-gratification.
Yet one last word. It is the downfall of the servant: he is drunken―he wallows in his own shame, a spectacle to the world.
Christ is near: even this day He may come. Have no tomorrow but glory, no today but His return. Blessed are those servants whom He shall find doing His will, ready with a welcome, and waiting for Him!