What Shall I Render?

We live in an acquisitive age. "Give me" said the prodigal. "Give me, give me, give me !" pleads modern man. Little wonder that behind a facade of gaiety the faces of so many of our fellow men and women are lined with boredom and discontent.

"Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15, AV).

We modern Christians need the warning given by our Lord. Contentment is not regarded as a virtue these days. There is, of course, a healthy discontent which recoils at injustice and the oppression of the weak; we are referring to the grasping, acquisitive kind which has self as its centre and circumference. If the Christian becomes tainted with it his testimony will be impaired and his spiritual life will wither. "Godliness with contentment" is a hall-mark of the true disciple.

The question,

"What shall I render unto the LORD

For all His benefits toward me?" (Psalm 116:12)

will echo in the heart of every thankful Christian. The psalmist's response to his own question is twofold: "I will take... " (v.13); "I will pay... " (v.14). "What shall I render?": "I will take". I will take more of the divine provision - I will drink more deeply of "the cup of salvation". That is the first response. Surely God delights to see His children partaking to the full the bountiful provision of divine grace I The hearts of those who drink deeply overflow with gratitude and praise; they cannot forbear to "call upon the name of the LORD".

By these means I will "render". But I will do more, "I will pay my vows unto the LORD". Obedience and service will match devotion.

"Nought that I have mine own I'd call,

I hold it for the Giver;

My heart, my strength, my life, my all,

Are His, and His for ever."

unknown | May 1973
Comment By Torchlight