A shirker is somebody who gets out of responsibility. Do you shirk? Do you allow others to bear the responsibility while you sit back and watch or maybe even murmur? Or do you bear and strengthen the team?
“Caleb was faithful and steadfast. He was not boastful, he made no parade of his merits and good deeds; but his influence was always on the side of right. And what was his reward? When the Lord denounced judgments against the men who refused to hearken to His voice, He said: ‘But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 5, 303.
Which class do you occupy: cowards and murmurers or are you classed with the faithful Caleb? While the cowards and murmurers perished in the wilderness, faithful Caleb had a home in the promised Canaan. The Lord God of Israel saith, “… for them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Samuel 2:30).
“Hannah prayed and trusted; and in her son Samuel she gave to the Israel of God a most precious treasure—a useful man, with a well-formed character, one who was as firm as a rock where principle was concerned.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 304.
What treasure do you offer to our Lord—a well-formed heavenly character or a well-formed earthly character?
“In Joppa there was a Dorcas, whose skillful fingers were more active than her tongue. She knew who needed comfortable clothing and who needed sympathy, and she freely ministered to the wants of both classes. And when Dorcas died, the church in Joppa realized their loss. It is no wonder that they mourned and lamented, nor that warm teardrops fell upon the inanimate clay. She was of so great value that by the power of God she was brought back from the land of the enemy, that her skill and energy might still be a blessing to others.” Ibid.
Are your fingers more active than your tongue? Do you offer sympathy and comfort when needed?
“Such patient, prayerful, and persevering fidelity as was possessed by these saints of God is rare; yet the church cannot prosper without it. It is needed in the church, in the Sabbath school, and in society. Many come together in church relationship with their natural traits of character unsubdued; and in a crisis, when strong, hopeful spirits are needed, they give up to discouragement and bring burdens on the church; and they do not see that this is wrong. The cause does not need such persons, for they are unreliable; but there is always a call for steadfast, God-fearing workers, who will not faint in the day of adversity.” Ibid.
Heavenly Father: Keep me from becoming a coward or a murmurer. Make me like faithful Caleb. Use me as an instrument of Thy righteousness. I offer you my heart to fill with Your love and mercy and sympathy and comfort so that others around me may be blessed. Don’t ever allow me to shirk, but to strengthen all around me through Thy grace, which is truly sufficient. Amen.