Giving Our Best For The Master

A story is told of a certain Rudolph, a young musician in Vienna with a burning desire to write a symphony. He was able to compose one finally after several try. After writing and rewriting it several times, he showed the same to some of his closest friends and asked for their honest opinion. All those he consulted, without exception, told him that it was an excellent work, and congratulated him with all sincerity. That inspired him, so Rudolph continued to go over it, rewriting it numerous times again, polishing and perfecting what he hoped would be a masterpiece. Finally, he was ready to present it to the public.

The orchestra performed his symphony well and beautifully. After the performance ended, there was a brief pause. Then, the audience broke out in thunderous applause eloquently signifying and confirming the excellent work done by Rudolph. However, he seemed not satisfied because he remained unmoved and unsmiling, until a matured grey-haired man approached him. The man placing his hands on his shoulders and shaking tightly his hand said, “Well done, Rudolph! Well done!” Only then did he smile with satisfaction from ear to ear. He had received approval from the one he wanted most to please – his respected and “idolized” mentor. This is the commendation we should expect after we have done a work or service for our God.

Recognition from people we serve is indeed encouraging, but more important above anything else is our God’s “Well done, good and faithful servant” approval of our work. It is God’s approval that really matters and counts!

It is said that the acclaimed genius painter for all times Michaelangelo sacrificially work on his numerous “Obra Maestra” paintings very laboriously, minutely and for long hours and days. So with the genius and well-known musician Beethoven, before he received the accolade awarded to him. The genius Thomas Alva Edison who invented the incandescent lamp had to experiment several times before he succeeded. The list of these class of geniuses is unending. The point is: Be patient, diligent and devoted to your work until you are satisfied that you have done your best.

If these geniuses work that much and that hard, how much more for us who are not? “There is no glory without sacrifice”.

In writing articles for our FGBMFI bulletin – the one and only in Philippine setting, one can imagine the time devoted by all the writers in thinking what to write about; the research that they make on the Bible and Bible concordance for applicable verses and parables or events to illustrate the truth of what they are writing; the precious moments spent by them for writing, rewriting, correcting and rewriting again before their work is printed in our bulletin! This must be in the mind and heart of the wisest of all men, King Solomon, when he wrote “… these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Eccl. 12:12 KJV).

As a constant contributor week after week for a number of years now to our FGBMFI bulletin, I can identify with the sacrifices in rewriting, correcting and rewriting again and again and, of course, the “joy” of the above-named geniuses, especially when someone would comment, “I read your nice article”. Oh, what a joy beyond words could express! Such unsolicited comments or commendations cannot be quantified in terms of millions of gold or silver and serve as enough encouragement and inspiration for the writer’s constant sacrifices in time in the wee hours of the morning, when most people are yet soundly asleep. What is most important and satisfying to the soul who gives his best efforts to produce articles for our bulletin, is our master’s commendation, “well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21).

Writing articles for our Saturday bulletin is a work for the Lord, and this is done with tremendous sacrifices. The Apostle Paul, a lawyer and member of the Sanhedrin (Jewish Supreme Court) and a prolific writer of 13 books of the New Testament (to include Hebrews) wrote: “Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58 KJV).

The Apostle John wrote, ascribing it to the LORD Jesus, “and, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev. 22:12). What is this reward? Only God knows, but it must be the best, beyond our wildest imagination because it comes from God the creator of all beings and things. Because God is omniscient (He knows everything) He will know what reward is needed by, and fits the qualification and talent of, the recipient.

Our FGBMFI Davao City Chapter will give various awards during its 2013 anniversary celebration, and this gesture is very commendable and encouraging to all the contributor-writers, but the highest and most coveted award is the reward coming from our God, “well done, thou good and faithful servant.”