A dear sister asked me a question recently that is absolutely wonderful (paraphrasing): "How do I know if Jesus will say 'Well done' to me?" or perhaps it was, "How do I know if I'm doing well?"
We had been sitting under the Master's teaching about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple as well as His coming again (Mark 13). In doing so, we considered the words we long to hear from our Master when He will have evaluated our service to Him: "Well done, productive and trustworthy servant! You have been faithful to serve my interests with a few things, now I will entrust much more to you. Come and share in your Master's celebration!" (Matthew 25:21,23 paraphrased). We all want to hear that. We all ache to hear those words (or any like them) pass through our Master's lips. Wanting it and being confident about it are two different things, so her question is a necessary and burning one. I was about to respond to her in a personal message then realized that perhaps others have the same question and could use some encouragement about it as well. Here's a running start at answering the question...
Ultimately, our confidence when we stand before our Master will be based on two essential things: 1) we knew what He wanted us to do, and 2) we did it. Consider our Master's expression of this:
The key to all of this is simply to be faithful disciples of Jesus who continually grow in our understanding of what He cares about and what matters to Him. He'll tell us, "Well done!" if we use the resources that He's entrusted to us (time, money, relationships, possessions, abilities, etc.) to further His purposes and interests. Are we generous? Are we others-centered? Do we expend ourselves for the good of that needy one over here and over there? In short, do we love - proactively, reactively and sacrificially?
So what does our Master value? I, like all of my fellow disciples, am still growing in my understanding of this, but I can say this much with certainty: He values God's glory and people's fullness of life. Think on His life and words, and what do you have to conclude? His resources (including His teachings) were poured out in order to draw eternally valuable people into the reality of God's very near kingdom so they could know the fullness of life. This was and is salvation in its fullest sense. I am convinced that our Master will commend most highly those who used whatever they had (be it much or little) to further the reach of the kingdom in the lives of people. Remember what our Master said: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).
It takes discipline and perseverance to steadily grow in understanding of our Lord's intentions and purposes, but we can do it. In fact, we're meant to. Knowing is the first necessary step. Doing comes next, and it's the doing that will require the lion's share of God's grace toward us and our efforts for Him. Knowing and doing that which our Master has left us to do is the sum total of our purpose in living these mortal lives, and this is why we must mean it when we say, "I am, before anything in my life, a disciple of Jesus Christ."
We had been sitting under the Master's teaching about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple as well as His coming again (Mark 13). In doing so, we considered the words we long to hear from our Master when He will have evaluated our service to Him: "Well done, productive and trustworthy servant! You have been faithful to serve my interests with a few things, now I will entrust much more to you. Come and share in your Master's celebration!" (Matthew 25:21,23 paraphrased). We all want to hear that. We all ache to hear those words (or any like them) pass through our Master's lips. Wanting it and being confident about it are two different things, so her question is a necessary and burning one. I was about to respond to her in a personal message then realized that perhaps others have the same question and could use some encouragement about it as well. Here's a running start at answering the question...
Ultimately, our confidence when we stand before our Master will be based on two essential things: 1) we knew what He wanted us to do, and 2) we did it. Consider our Master's expression of this:
“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:47-48In order to serve the Master's interests well in His (physical) absence, we have to be clear about what we've been given to do. Some of the work is general, meaning we're all meant to take part in it. Other work is delegated specially to specific people. We are all meant to be a part of the great work of making disciples and nurturing them to maturity, but we play different roles in that process. "The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor" (1 Corinthians 3:8). We're all meant to lovingly serve one another, especially those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10), but that service may differ from person to person based on resources, opportunities and life circumstances.
The key to all of this is simply to be faithful disciples of Jesus who continually grow in our understanding of what He cares about and what matters to Him. He'll tell us, "Well done!" if we use the resources that He's entrusted to us (time, money, relationships, possessions, abilities, etc.) to further His purposes and interests. Are we generous? Are we others-centered? Do we expend ourselves for the good of that needy one over here and over there? In short, do we love - proactively, reactively and sacrificially?
So what does our Master value? I, like all of my fellow disciples, am still growing in my understanding of this, but I can say this much with certainty: He values God's glory and people's fullness of life. Think on His life and words, and what do you have to conclude? His resources (including His teachings) were poured out in order to draw eternally valuable people into the reality of God's very near kingdom so they could know the fullness of life. This was and is salvation in its fullest sense. I am convinced that our Master will commend most highly those who used whatever they had (be it much or little) to further the reach of the kingdom in the lives of people. Remember what our Master said: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).
It takes discipline and perseverance to steadily grow in understanding of our Lord's intentions and purposes, but we can do it. In fact, we're meant to. Knowing is the first necessary step. Doing comes next, and it's the doing that will require the lion's share of God's grace toward us and our efforts for Him. Knowing and doing that which our Master has left us to do is the sum total of our purpose in living these mortal lives, and this is why we must mean it when we say, "I am, before anything in my life, a disciple of Jesus Christ."
