Actively working for Christ

from Charles Spurgeon

It is better to be actively working for Christ than to sit still, and read, and study, and hope to enjoy his company so. There must be alternations between the contemplative and the active life of a Christian. Sometimes, it is best to sit quietly with Mary, and leave Martha and the dishes alone; but, at another time, it is better to bestir yourself, and to run hither and thither with all the diligence of a Martha, for then Jesus will be most likely to meet with you. I notice - and I think that my observation is correct, - that my brethren and sisters who do most for Christ, know most about him, and have most fellowship with him. The Sabbath-school teacher, diligent in his class, and weary, perhaps, now that the Sabbath is well-nigh spent, yet rejoicing that he has set forth Christ before his class, is the one to whom the Lord will come and manifest himself. The man who has been in the street preaching, or going from door to door trying to speak for Christ by a tract or by his own voice, and all of you, indeed, who have done anything for your Lord and Master, are the most likely persons for him to meet with at this time.

I have known some, who have been for years members of churches, but who have never done anything for the Saviour; they are the kind of people who do not get on with my ministry long, they say that they are not able to feed upon it. They are generally wanderers who go about from one place to another looking for new light, and they never get to be very happy or very useful; nor do they often have much communion with Christ. No; our Lord is very choice in his company, and he does not frequent the house of the sluggard; but wherever there is one who spends and is spent for Jesus, there we may expect that Jesus will be. If we heartily serve him, the state of mind into which we shall be brought will be congenial to his own; fellowship will be likely between the labouring Saviour and his labouring servant. Follow the example of him who went about doing good, and you will thus be in sympathy with him, and you will find that he will come and walk with you because you two are agreed.

That is certainly one reason why Christ comes to those who are busy about his errands, because he is in agreement with them, and they are therefore travelling in the right road to meet with him. "If any man will not work, neither shall he eat," is a rule that Christ observes; and those who will not work for him get but scant morsels from him. Few of the bits my brother spoke of, that are dipped in the dish with Christ, come to those who never lift a hand to do him any service; but if he brings us into loving obedience, into joyful alacrity and sacred earnestness in doing his will, then it is that he will in all probability meet with us by the way, and manifest himself to us. Sit ye down, then, ye who have come to the end of another day of holy service; and just pray, "Jesus, Master, come and meet us now."