"Feed the Flock": "But It Was Worth It"

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 7
 
In a fierce battle during World War I, a young American soldier saw his lifelong buddy fall wounded. He pleaded with his sergeant to let him leave the safety of the trench and go into “No Man’s Land” to bring back his wounded friend.
The sergeant tried to discourage the young man, but finally, after repeatedly warning him, said, “Go ahead, but I don’t think it’ll be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you’ll endanger your own life!”
The sergeant’s warnings of peril didn’t stop the young man. Out of the trench he quickly scrambled and somehow almost miraculously he managed to reach his friend. Placing him on his shoulder, he stumbled back to the company’s trench. As the two of them lay in the relative security of the trench, the sergeant carefully checked the wounded soldier.
Then, looking kindly at his friend, who had received grave wounds in the rescue attempt, he quietly said, “I told you it wouldn’t be worth it, son. He’s dead, and you may not live.”
“But it was worth it, sir!” the soldier gasped.
“Worth it!” responded the sergeant in surprise. “But, your friend is dead and you’re badly hurt!”
“I know, sir,” the private said. “But it was worth it to me. When I got to him, he was still alive, and I heard him whisper, ‘Al, I knew you’d come.’ ”
We know that nothing short of love could motivate such heroics in the face of those terrible dangers. This reminds us of John 15:1313Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13): “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
We rightly apply this to the Lord Jesus who laid down His life for those who at one time were His enemies those to whom through matchless grace He now says, “Ye are My friends.” But in these words do we not also have the divine motive and measure of our service for the brethren?
How vital that we willingly display in practical ways this loving spirit of sacrifice towards those redeemed with the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. It matters little what the world thinks of our efforts at service. We do not serve our brethren to gain the world’s praise, but to give joy to His heart.
The reason we can and ought to serve is that “a brother is born for adversity” (Prov. 17:1717A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)). The measure of our service is that “we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:1616Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)). The need for our service is that “I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state” (Phil. 2:2020For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. (Philippians 2:20)). The reward for our service is found in these words of our blessed Saviour: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me” (Matt. 25:4040And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40)).
Ed.