THE TRAGEDY OF A
WASTED LIFE
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).
A sad old
man dying of cancer told a pastor friend this tragic story: “Years ago in Sweden,
God called me to preach – to this, I agreed, if He would enable me to sell my
farm. The very next day, a man made me an offer, but I hesitated, telling him
to return on the morrow.”
“After
prayer, I promised God that I would preach if the buyer would agree to take my
job as a Sunday school superintendent. The man said, ‘That is the very chance I
have wanted.’ He paid me for the farm; but, rather than using the money to
prepare for the ministry, I went to America.
“The first
year in America,
my wife died, leaving me with five children. Very soon after that, my oldest
daughter died. Still, I would not surrender to God’s will. I preached a little on the side but did not
obey God in giving my full time. I lost a good business, pleaded bankruptcy,
and left town.
“Then I
went into the hardware business and prospered for a time, but one of my sons
who assisted me in the work began a systematic robbery of the till. Again I was
forced into bankruptcy.
“These things
did not come upon me accidentally. They were the hand of God. Now I am dying of cancer – I have only three
months to live.” Weeping, he said, “I know I am saved, but, oh, the loss! I will soon be ushered into HIS
presence to give an account of a whole life of disobedience.”
What a
tragedy! He wasted time, talents,
treasure, and testimony. He might have become the “Moody” of Sweden.
WASTED TIME
Think of
the many years this man wasted. Lost
time is gone forever. Life is too short to be frittered away on self. It isn’t how long you live, but how you live, that counts.
David
Brainerd, the great missionary to the American Indians, died when only 29. But his utter abandonment to the will of God,
his crushing burden for the souls of men, his many hours of agonizing
intercessory prayer challenge us to this day. He accomplished so much during
his short life because he lived not unto himself “but unto Him which died for
them, and rose again” (II Corinthians 5:15).
The love of
Christ compelled him to follow the steps of his Master, who did “always those things that please[d] the
Father” (John 8:29). At the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will give an account
of precious time squandered in rebellion against God’s will.
WASTED TALENTS
It isn’t
the number of talents you possess but
your use of them that counts. You can shamefully waste them in sin, foolishly
let them die under the rubbish of little petty things that eat up your valuable
time and attention or wisely develop them for God’s glory and service.
“Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). What right have you to
misuse God-given talents, gifts, and abilities rather than to use them to
produce fruit and testimony for your Lord?
WASTED TREASURE
Full surrender
includes the purse and checkbook. God entrusted you with money that you might
know the joy of using it to speed the Gospel to the heathen, evangelize
world-wide through the printed page, aid struggling preachers and Christian
workers, relieve poverty-stricken suffering saints and in many other ways
support God’s work.
The liberal
soul enjoys a thrill that the stingy, close-fisted, religious tightwad knows
nothing about. If all God’s children placed their treasure at the wounded feet
of their living Lord, every phase of Gospel work would prosper without the
begging, pleading, and driving for funds that characterize Christian work of
our day.
YIELD YOURSELF TO GOD
What are
you doing with your time, talents, and treasure? Do you want God to bless your
life and use your testimony? Then bow before Him now and say:
“Dear Lord
Jesus, I thank You for giving Yourself on the cross for me. I know You are
alive from the dead, exalted as Lord of all. Now, I yield myself, my all,
without hesitation or reservation, once and for all, utterly to You. Have Your
way in my life now and forever. By Your grace, I will go where You lead, I will speak what You command, I will
be what You choose, and I will do Your will as You reveal it for Your glory.”
