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The Crown of Life, November 25
There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all
them also that love his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8
.
Paul kept ever in view the crown of life which was to be given to him, and not
to him only, but also to all those who love Christ’s appearing. But it was victory
through Jesus Christ that made the crown of life so desirable to him. Jesus would
not have us ambitious to obtain reward, but ambitious to do God’s will because it is
His will, irrespective of the reward we are to receive.
The gift of God is eternal life. The Lord desires all who receive His grace to
trust entirely in Him. He calls upon us to exercise pure, simple faith, trusting in
Him, without a question as to what recompense we shall receive. We are to work
heartily in His service, showing that we have perfect confidence that He will judge
righteously.
In the account of the judgment scene, when the reward is given to the righteous,
and sentence is passed on the wicked, the righteous are represented as wondering
what they have done that they should receive such reward. But they cherished an
abiding faith in Christ. They were imbued with His Spirit, and, without conscious
effort, they performed for Christ, in the person of His saints, those services that
bring a sure reward. But their motive in working was not to receive compensation.
They regarded it as the highest honor to be allowed to work as Christ worked. What
they did was done from love to Christ and to their fellowmen, and He who has
identified Himself with suffering humanity accredited these acts of compassion and
love as though done to Himself....
Our every endowment, our every talent, we owe to the Lord. Every victory
gained is gained through His grace. Therefore, it is entirely out of place for us to
boast....
If we would remember that we are on test and trial before the heavenly universe,
that God is proving us, to see what spirit we are of, there would be more serious
contemplation, more earnest prayer. Those who work in simplicity realize that of
himself man can do no good thing. They are full of gratitude and thanksgiving for
the privilege of holding communion with God. Interwoven with their service is a
principle that makes their gifts and offerings wholly fragrant. They have the same
confidence and trust in God that a child has in its earthly father.
It is not so much for our activity and zeal that we are rewarded, but for the
tenderness, the graciousness, the love that we have mingled with our work for the
sick, the oppressed, the afflicted (
The Signs of the Times, August 9, 1899
).
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