“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.’” (Matthew 25:23, NIV)
Some time ago I bettered my age in terms of my golf score. I had shot my age on a previous occasion, but I thought bettering my age was pretty special. So I was quite surprised by the reaction of others with this achievement.
Beyond the usual “good job” or “well done,” people did not seem to care too much about this accomplishment.
Given the fact that I had applied myself for years to make this happen and that I had finally reached an age where this was remotely possible, it had become a big deal for me. Apparently, it wasn’t as big a deal for others.
Now, this is not going to change my desire to accomplish this again or even give up on golf. It just makes me rethink how impressed my actual audience really was about this milestone. It causes me to re-examine some of the more important matters of life as a Christian. Our life with Christ is more of a marathon than a quick sprint. Accomplishing our intended purpose will actually take a lifetime.
So the admonition of our Savior is to live our life in such a way that we hear his commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” It was Billy Graham who repeatedly said those words were the only words he was interested in hearing at the end of his life.
“Well done” is only the assessment, however. Hearing these words is predicated upon being both good and faithful. This seems counterintuitive for those of us who know we are sinners saved by grace. Where does such qualifying goodness and faithfulness come from? Only Christ in us and only his Spirit working through us. We set our eyes on him and he sets our course for eternity, leading us to goodness and faithfulness “in a few things,” so we are prepared to take on so much more when we are with him.
When this happens, there is immeasurable joy associated with this achievement in the company of the one who really matters—that is, God (our Master) himself. It states that we get to share our Master’s happiness.
When I measure this verse alongside my recent achievement of bettering my age, there really is no comparison. Actually, it is almost embarrassing to even mention it in light of the big picture!
But isn’t it like us as human beings to have an earthly focus? we need to live our life or play the game to an audience of one. After all, he is the one keeping score and his score is the one that really matters.
Will we quit playing golf? Probably not. But I know for myself that whatever the golf score, it is only a barometer reading at a moment in time. The score that counts eternally comes not from a game being played but a life being lived by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
—
Larry Dublanko
April 23, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.