Faithfulness Before Greatness

Rev. Sang Ho Bae's 11th expository work on the gospel of Matthew explains the priority of faithfulness and compassion for those who are called to serve in His name.

Our Lord came to save this world. From before the foundation of the world, He had planned the cross and the resurrection, and through them He completed the work of atonement. But for that gospel to reach the ends of the earth, He needed people who would carry it. So when He began His public ministry, He also began the training of His disciples. One day the Lord saw Peter and Andrew casting their net into the sea. He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” A little farther on, He saw James and John with their father in the boat, mending their nets, and He called them as well. And when they heard His call, they immediately left the boat, the nets, and even their father and followed Him. After that, their destiny was completely—and eternally—changed. Fishermen became apostles, the foundation stones of the church, writers of scripture, and the twelve foundation stones of the heavenly city. “The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Rev. 21:14).

When the Lord called His disciples, every one of them was working. Peter and Andrew were casting their nets; James and John were repairing theirs. Jesus did not call idle people. Diligence is one of the chief qualifications the Lord looks for. A person may have great ability, but without diligence, he becomes a burden rather than a help. Only those who are faithful in ordinary things can be trusted with greater things. “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). These four men were fishermen—men without formal education. Their writings show a simple, unpolished style, very different from the refined language of the highly educated Apostle Paul. Yet during Jesus’ earthly ministry, these four were the most active and visible. They were eager, hardworking, and quick to act—sometimes too quick. But they stepped forward when something needed to be done. Peter’s impulsive nature is well known. James and John were fiery enough to earn the nickname “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). When a village rejected them, they even asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven (Luke 9:54). Jesus rebuked them for such attitudes, yet these same men were among His most devoted followers. Of the twelve, Jesus kept three especially close—Peter, James, and John.

When we appoint workers in the church, we must remember the Lord’s standard. If we follow His way, we will not go wrong. Talent without faithfulness leads to failure. But a faithful person, even if lacking in other areas, brings blessing to the church. Paul instructed Timothy to entrust ministry to faithful people (2 Tim. 2:2). When the four disciples were called, they immediately left everything and followed Jesus. The boat and the nets represented their livelihood; their father represented their family. To follow Christ, they made a costly decision. Yet following Jesus is not truly a loss. Those who follow Him sow what is perishable but reap what is imperishable; they sow what is dishonorable but reap what is glorious. Even if they lose their life while following Christ, it is not a loss, because they will obtain a ‘better resurrection.’

The Lord called His disciples to make them evangelists. His greatest concern was the salvation of souls. When He saw people perishing, His heart was deeply moved. “Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). The original word for “compassion” means to feel pain deep within, as though the inner parts were being torn. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because He knew the judgment that awaited them, and His heart was broken. The first thing an evangelist must have is this same heart—a heart that grieves for perishing souls, just as the Lord did.