Luke 19:11-27 And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem… There is a principle in this award which regulates God's dealings with us in either world. And it is this — the ground and secret of all increase is "faithfulness." And we may all rejoice that this is the rule of God's moral gifts — for had anything else except "faithfulness" been made the condition, many would have been unable, or at least, would have thought themselves unable, to advance at all. I should have no hesitation in placing first "faithfulness" to convictions. So long as a man has not silenced them by sin, the heart is full of "still small voices," speaking to him everywhere. There is a duty which has long lain neglected, and almost forgotten. Suddenly, there wakes up in your mind a memory of that forgotten duty. It is a very little thing that, by some association, woke the memory. An old sin presents itself to your mind in a new light. A thought comes to you in the early morning, "Get up." Presently, another thought says, "You are leaving your room without any real communion with God." Those are convictions. Everybody has them — they are the movings of the Holy Ghost in a man — they are the scintillations of an inner life which is struggling with the darkness. But, be "faithful" to them; for if you are unfaithful, they will get weaker and weaker, and fewer and fewer, till they go out. But if you are "faithful" to them, there will be an increase — stronger, more frequent, loftier, more spiritual, they will grow — till it is as if your whole being were penetrated with the mind of God; and everything within you and around you will be a message, and the whole world will be vocal to you of Christ. Next to this "faithfulness" to convictions, I should place "faithfulness in little things" to men — and this of two kinds. It is of the utmost importance that you be scrupulously accurate and just in all your most trivial transactions of honour and business with your fellow-creatures. And, secondly, every one of us has, or might have, influence with somebody. The acquisition and the use of that influence are great matters of "faithfulness." (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. |
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