Work, for the Night is Coming

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey (Matthew 25:14-15).

Mrs. Harry Coghill wrote these words to an old hymn I use to sing as a boy:
“Work for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor:
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.”

Jesus said (John 9:4), I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. One truth in the Parable of the Talents is that the true servant of the Lord will indeed serve Him. Christians are called by the Lord into His harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). Ours is not the position of a spectator of the Kingdom of Christ, but of a participant in the Kingdom.

The servants of the master were given talents to invest. Two did, one did not. The master was pleased with the industry of the two servants but was angry at the lack of industry of the one servant. It did not matter what the one servant thought of his master - feeling have nothing to do with service. Faithful service is based on obedience to the desire of the master.

What service to we render as Christians in the Kingdom? The service that reflects the spiritual gifts given to us. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

As the master gave each servant to invest the number of talents he willed, so the Holy Spirit give each Christian the spiritual gift of ministry that He wills. Each gift honors the Lord as it is ministered to the various members of the body of Christ - the church - to the benefit of all.

Pastor