Lesson 247 . I Cannot Come Down

Once, I encouraged a well-known person to set a life goal for himself called “agape” and to do everything necessary to reach that goal. In response, I heard indignation from him and was somewhat surprised. He had understood my wish in a way quite different from what I had meant.

In Nehemiah 6:3, there is this expression: “... I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” This was said to the enemies of God’s people, who were plotting evil against Nehemiah. And for many of us, this is a very good example of how we should answer sin and those who tempt us.

But when a similar statement is made to Christ or to His servants, whom He sends into this world as sheep among wolves, it sounds completely wrong.

Do I have oil for my lamp, and do I have agape? This is the most important question that I must answer honestly for myself.

I can load myself down with good works, missionary work, or administrative responsibilities and find such enjoyment and satisfaction in them that there is a danger that, amid all this, I will fail to hear the knock at my door and will ignore the voice of Christ, Who speaks to me very tenderly and offers me something very good and unusual for me. But for this, I must stop, come down to Christ, and sit at His feet. I must simply humble myself under the mighty Hand of God and receive what God desires to give and reveal.

But when I am engaged in important work and simply have no time for God because I am saving this world, what is left for God to do? Perhaps He will bless my work and grant it success. Perhaps He will lead me through the fire, and the flame will not scorch me. Perhaps through my labor many will learn about Christ. But will any of this benefit me if, at the end of the journey, I realize that there is no oil in my vessel with which to trim my lamp, while the Seller of this oil no longer offers me anything and is no longer even standing at my door? I think it is impossible to imagine a more terrible condition.

And what will I teach those whom I am called to save if I do not have love? The law, an understanding of prophecy and biblical symbols, doctrines, church order, and faithfulness to reforms? People need this knowledge too. It helps them avoid falling into error and carries a blessing within itself. But no matter how much I may desire it, I cannot give them what I do not have.

A dilemma arises. Let us try to consider it from within, from the perspective of this busy person:

I labor for God, do God’s work, and see God’s blessing, yet I do not have this God within me. I simply have no time for Him, nor do I know how to receive Him, although I have been in the church for many years and believe in Jesus. And the constant workload and responsibility in God’s work compel me to labor so that the work will not stop or fall into neglect. I simply cannot come down from the rails of my habitual cares.

And what makes you think that I do not have love? I can show it to you through my works. I can bring you living witnesses who will be living examples that I have oil within me. Do you really think I am moving all this forward in my own strength? Although somewhere in my mind I understand what is being discussed. But if I acknowledge this truth about myself, what will happen to my students? How will they look at their teacher, who teaches them something that he himself does not possess? Yes, it is very difficult to realize, and even more difficult to admit. And what am I to do in that case? I cannot come down; there is simply no time to stop!

I only ask that the Lord of the harvest send laborers into my harvest. Sometimes it is so difficult to carry everything alone, and it weighs on me so heavily.

And to be completely honest, I can even admit the fact that I do not have love. I simply have no deep understanding of what it is or how to receive it. But I think it will come as an automatic addition from God, as a reward for my busyness in God’s work. I can only imagine how many treasures have accumulated in my Heavenly bank.

But life goes on, experience increases, and there is still no love. My students have already surpassed me and even try to teach me. They would do better to remember the filth from which I lifted them and where they would be if it were not for me. In any case, there is so much work ahead that I cannot come down; there is simply no physical time to stop. The work would cease!

But love waits for its time and gently offers itself, knowing only that wherever it takes up residence, there is much joy, peace, and friendship. It draws me to Jesus. It is not afraid of great works or responsibility, but places a special meaning and its whole self into everything I do. It is in no hurry, but goes wherever the Shepherd’s voice is heard. It knows Him personally and greatly loves to pause in order to commune with Him. Will I hear this voice?

Love is ...

It is either what Christ offers me or what I imagine for myself based on my life experience.

Agape is precisely the goal that everyone must set and attain. It is the place where we all need to arrive. Failure to hit this goal is called sin.

When I have love, I know it. It is not something I must guess about or search for in the hidden corners of my soul. It is light within me; it is a city on the top of a hill; it is a fire hidden in my bosom that cannot be concealed. It is the Testimony of Jesus.

But if I do not have it, I will be able to find a great deal of evidence that you are mistaken in your assessment and show that this is not so. Or I can honestly admit the fact but quiet my soul with the thought that everyone is like this, so why should I be any different?

And what should I do? I know Christ’s answer: “Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, ... and come, follow Me.”

But I have great possessions. Whether I answer this knock at the door, buy this Heavenly gold, or go away sorrowful is for me to decide.

But I have also noticed that all my students are steadily catching up with me in their development and knowledge of the truth. I have a certain authority among them. They closely resemble me in their zeal, and they are already winning new souls for the church themselves and helping me greatly. And when we gather together, it is such a joy to listen to experiences about who we once were and what the Lord has done with us. And those people who are constantly repeating something about some kind of love probably understand nothing about life with God. Show me works, not some kind of love. I can call anything love and say that it is love, and you will not be able to prove otherwise.

And many of our people are persecuted, humiliated, imprisoned, and killed, and you think that what they need now is love while they are suffering so much for the Name of Christ? Still, I remember the apostle Paul’s warning about not having love, but that does not apply to us.

Love is when your works are visible to everyone and God is glorified by them. That is what I can say on the basis of my works.

What would you say, friends, about such a person? Or perhaps this is the person whom I meet in the mirror every morning?

I taught my daughter neatness, kindness, honesty, politeness, and diligence. She is a very decent wife and a dutiful young woman. But despite all this, we do not have a relationship with each other. It is not because I am bad or because she has no interest, but because the heart must be drawn to this on both sides, and there is freedom of choice regarding how and with whom to communicate. Yet she is my daughter and, by law, an heir.

Love is a relationship, and the spirit of this relationship is special—a loving spirit.

Homework 247

In the light of our lesson, please read Nehemiah 6:2–4; Matthew 25:13; 5:14–16, 44–48; 1 John 3:11, 16; 4:19–21; 1 Peter 1:22; Psalm 46:10; Micah 6:8; John 17:26; 15:7–12; and Revelation 3:22.
What did you understand from this lesson?
Is it possible that the work of God which I perform can become a trap for me? If so, in what way?
Is it possible to burn out emotionally while serving Christ?
Are there any works of God in which the presence of love is not necessary?
How can I put all my love into my work?
What does it mean to do something with love?
What do you experience when you do something for Christ? How can I determine whether the Lord approves of my labor?
Which Bible stories came to mind as you studied this lesson?
Does God have time for my questions and concerns?