As we build, we are fulfilling a true vocation under God. God’s people should always be builders. But as we build, we are not, Babel-like, to be building a name for ourselves (Gen. 11:4). When we build in the name of Christ, it should be a house for His name (2 Sam. 7:13).
When Jesus tells us to give with one hand, while keeping our other hand in the dark about it (Matt. 6:3), this is the principle. We are not in this for our glory. We leave our reputations, our names, our legacies, in the hands of God Himself.
There is irony in it, of course. When all is said and done, we are to say that we have been unprofitable servants, and have only done what was required of us. At the same moment, God says, well done, good and faithful servant.
We are to labor for that commendation. We are to yearn for it. We should want it more than we want anything else in the world. And, at the same time, we have to leave it entirely to His discretion, to say or not say.
If we try to manipulate it, or work it in any way, we are missing the entire point. When we let go completely, we do it by relinquishing our right to a commendation, and the end result is that we receive His words of commendation.
The demands of God’s grace arise from within His nature and character. He commends according to His good pleasure. If in any way we want the demand to arise from anywhere within us, then this means that we are trying to fix a brass plaque on the side of whatever work it was we did for Him. And of course that means we did not do it for Him, and that we already have our reward. Our goal is therefore to build something impressive, but with God receiving all the glory.
Psalm 127 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. 3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their… Read more »
A while ago I was contemplating that passage and I realized something. When the Master addresses the servants, two receive “well done, good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. ” and one receives a Divine “get out of here! ” It seemed interesting to me that the first servant didn’t get a slightly better commendation than the second until I realized that I am not a good or a faithful servant in anything I do. The only way the Father could look at me and say that is because He’s looking at Christ, the only… Read more »