A lifting up for the downcast - Bridge - XI - Sermon 11

Required reading
A lifting up for the downcast by William Bridge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon XI (A lifting up in case of unserviceableness).

My summary
Today we read Bridges' eleventh sermon on Psalm 42:11.

In this sermon Bridges teaches us that sometimes the discouragements of the saints are drawn from their employments, work and service.

Firstly, Bridges positively affirms working for the Lord.

Then he defines service of God as:
(i) special employment (which is various in kind);
(ii) ordinary obedience to God's commands.

Next we see that a lack of employment for God is no source of discouragement for:
(i) God may use you presently;
(ii) a man may not be employed and go to heaven;
(iii) you can rejoice in the employment of others.

Then, as usual, Bridges addresses objections.  These include:
(i) I lack abilities to work;
(ii) I meet with so many difficulties in my work;
(iii) I am most unserviceable;
(iv) I have no success in my work;
(v) I may be working in a way of judgement as Judas was;
(vi) I meet with no success in my work according to my desire.

What grabbed me
The distress that comes from a lack of 'success' in our work is all too common. 

But Bridges gave good counsel: 'But wherein doth Christ comfort himself in this case of no success in his work amongst the Jews ? That we have in verse 4 : " Surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God." Whatever judgment men do make, it matters not much, for "my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God." I have done the work which God gave me to do, and therein I have approved myself unto God ; and therefore though I have laboured in vain and spent my strength for nought, yet I have comfort in my work, for my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God ; I have not lost my labour, for my work is with God. And thus may you also comfort yourself in the want of success ; true, I have laboured in vain as to others, but not in vain to myself; I have lost my labour as to others, but not as to my God ; for my reward is with God, and though I have spent my strength for nought in regard of men, yet my work is with my God ; and in all this work I have approved myself unto him ; and therefore whatever the success be, yet will not I be discouraged ; for my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.'

If you have been faithful in your labour for God, then you are a success in his eyes.  Just as Christ was.  And that's what counts.

Next week's reading
Read Sermon XII (A lifting up in case of discouragements drawn from the condition itself).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.