In The Master's Service

NOT HOW THE WORLD THINKS

Elder Mark Green

"Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets...Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6:23, 26).

How opposite is the thinking of the world to the principles of the Scriptures! If men are worldly-minded, then they will be contrary to godliness. This has always been the case: it was so in the days of the prophets, and in the days of Christ, and it is so now. There is great reward in serving God. We may not always be able to understand it, but we should believe it, for the Bible says it is so. "Moreover by them (the judgments of the Lord) is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward" (Psalm 19:11). Obedience to God in this life carries its own reward. There is much to be had in obedience, by the grace of God, that we will not forfeit if we do not obey. Heaven, however, is not a reward for our obedience, but for Christ's. It is the reward of grace - it is something that we did not earn, but that someone else earned for us. It is ours, nonetheless, and that thought ought to make us rejoice, even to leap for joy. It is a great reward, far above anything we can imagine. God's prophets suffered much in their days at the hands of wicked men, because of their righteous walk, but they lived in hope of something better. "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). Their hope of heaven sustained them while they were being persecuted for righteousness' sake.

The Bible says we should, as much as we possibly can, live peaceably with all men. We ought to strive to be kind and pleasant to our neighbors. There is a difference, however, between striving to live peaceably and striving to be popular. Popularity has its own reward: "Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" (Matthew 6:2). They seek for the praise of men, and they get it - but what do they have when they get it? Men's opinions are like the waves of the sea: ask any politician. Men's opinions are often - usually - faulty. God's judgments are always righteous. Wicked men are "of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth." Their judgments are corrupt, erroneous, perverted. If they speak well of us - if they all speak well of us - should that make us comfortable that we are in the right?

That was the opinion of the population in general regarding the false prophets of the Old Testament times. Human nature has not changed. The opinions of wicked men, who "wax worse and worse," have not improved.

As long as there are wicked men upon the earth, and as long as there are righteous men who are striving to live a godly life, the former will persecute the latter. When that happens, if we may be accounted in the latter group, we ought to think of our home in heaven, rejoice that we are accounted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake, and follow Him. No man ever went wrong following Jesus.

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