If we will diligently employ in the work of the Kingdom what we have been given, the Lord will entrust us with greater responsibilities. We can gain "ten talents" if we will give ourselves to the tasks at hand. Such diligence and faithfulness please the Lord very much.

Many—perhaps most—of God's people have little idea what their roles are in the Body of Christ, in the Kingdom of God. There may be several excuses for such ignorance but the Kingdom suffers as a result. It is important in the present hour that each saint begin to do something about his or her responsibility in the Kingdom.

"I have a wife and family."

"I am too young."

"I am too old."

"I am not trained."

"I am too busy!"

"I will do the Lord's will when I retire."

On and on the excuses go but God accepts none of them. The point is, we are to seek first the Kingdom of God. Otherwise our crown will be removed from our head and placed on the head of another who is faithful to the Words of Christ Jesus.

The world rocks along toward the reign of Antichrist. Millions are born and millions die. Moral filth is increasing. A tiny minority has been entrusted with the Word of God. God requires that those who have been so entrusted lay aside all diversions and recognize that being a saint is a full-time calling.

Each member of the Body of Christ has been called to the work of the Kingdom of God. This is his responsibility in the world, the meaning of his life.

We can choose to set ourselves apart to the responsibility and work of establishing the Kingdom of God on the earth. If we do, we will lose our life for Christ's sake and the Gospel's and gain eternal life and fruitfulness in the Kingdom of God.

We can choose to make our occupation in the world the focus of our time and energy. We may gain friends, acclaim, material wealth, every physical comfort. We can portion out some of this gain for the work of the Gospel when such giving does not require a painful sacrifice on our part.

The moment we die physically our choices will be evaluated. The believer who has dedicated his life to the work of the Kingdom will be greeted joyfully by Christ Jesus. He will be welcomed to the fellowship of the saints, to the ranks of those who also have dedicated their lives to the work of the Kingdom of God. His gladness of heart will know no bounds.

But the believer who has struggled so laboriously with the affairs of the world will recognize immediately he has been deceived. His dedication to the world and neglect of spiritual values will be revealed for all to behold.

One of the most searing pangs of Hell will be the bitter remorse over opportunities forever lost. To think we could have spent our life for eternal gain! Instead, we so foolishly chose to occupy ourselves with tinsel, baubles, the cackling approval of worldlings. What sharp claws will tear our soul in that moment! It could have been so different. So different.

Let the foolish among us choose to occupy their time and strength with the visible world—that which will be done away when the universe is consumed in God's fire.

Let the wise among us choose to set ourselves apart to the Kingdom of God. As we do a multitude of others also will be set apart to God by means of the truth our life has become through our Lord Jesus Christ. (from John Seventeen)