Living In The Light

July 15, To Whom Much Is Given

“For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.”
—Luke 12:48 LL 209.1

We shall individually be held responsible for doing one jot less than we have ability to do. The Lord measures with exactness every possibility for service. The unused capabilities are as much brought into account as are those that are improved. For all that we might become through the right use of our talents God holds us responsible. We shall be judged according to what we ought to have done, but did not accomplish because we did not use our powers to glorify God. Even if we do not lose our souls, we shall realize in eternity the result of our unused talents. For all the knowledge and ability that we might have gained and did not, there will be an eternal loss. LL 209.2

But when we give ourselves wholly to God and in our work follow His directions, He makes Himself responsible for its accomplishment. He would not have us conjecture as to the success of our honest endeavors. Not once should we even think of failure. We are to cooperate with One who knows no failure. LL 209.3

We should not talk of our own weakness and inability. This is a manifest distrust of God, a denial of His word. When we murmur because of our burdens, or refuse the responsibilities He calls upon us to bear, we are virtually saying that He is a hard Master, that He requires what He has not given us power to do. LL 209.4

The spirit of the slothful servant we are often fain to call humility. But true humility is widely different. To be clothed with humility does not mean that we are to be dwarfs in intellect, deficient in aspiration, and cowardly in our lives, shunning burdens lest we fail to carry them successfully. Real humility fulfills God’s purposes by depending upon His strength. LL 209.5

God works by whom He will. He sometimes selects the humblest instrument to do the greatest work, for His power is revealed through the weakness of humans. We have our standard, and by it we pronounce one thing great and another small; but God does not estimate according to our rule. We are not to suppose that what is great to us must be great to God, or that what is small to us must be small to Him. . . . Whatever our work, God is honored by wholehearted, cheerful service.— Christ’s Object Lessons , pp. 363, 364. LL 209.6

Further Reflection: Ponder the thought that we should never think of failure when doing the work of God. How can you cooperate with God who knows no failure as you work for Him? LL 209.7