Charles Spurgeon is often referred to as the “prince of preachers” and proves so by still being so relevant and regarded today. He also had a faithful church member and supportive deacon named, William Olney, On the Lord’s day after Mr. Olney “fell asleep” Mr Spurgeon preached a message on Acts 13:36 in regards to the death of his beloved friend.
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep – Acts 13:36
In this sermon Spurgeon went on to define what it means to serve one’s own generation.
- It does not mean to be a slave to it. It is not to drop into the habits, customs, and ideas of the generation in which we live…that man serves his generation best who is not caught by every new current of opinion, but stands firmly by the truth of God.
- It is not to fly from it. If any man says, “The world is so bad, that I will avoid coming into contact with it altogether… he is certainly not serving his own generation. If he shall shut himself up…and leave the world to go to ruin as it may, he will not be like David…Come forward and fight evil, and triumph over it whether it be evil in doctrine, evil in practice, or evil any other kind. Be bold for Christ, bear your witness, and be not ashamed.
- It is to perform the common duties of life. He that at home cannot or will not undertake ordinary duties, will not likely be able to serve his age. The girl who dreams about the foreign missionary field, but cannot darn her brother’s stockings, will not be of service either at home or abroad. Do the commonplace things, the ordinary things that come in your way, and you will begin to serve your generation, as David served his.
- It is to be ready for the occasion when it comes...If you want to serve the church and serve the age, beloved friend, be wide awake when he occasion comes. Jump into the saddle when the horse is at your door; and God will bless you if you are on the look-out for opportunities of serving Him.
- It is to maintain true religion...This David did. He had grave faults in his later life..but he never swerved from his allegiance to Jehovah the true God…We, too, shall truly serve those amongst whom we dwell by maintaining true religion…The spread of “pure and undefiled religion” is a certain way to serve those around us.
- It is to continue to serve all our life. Notice well that David served “his own generation”; not only a part of it, but the whole of it. He began to serve God, and he kept on serving God.
- It is to prepare for those who are to come after us…We must be looking ahead as far as ever we can, not with unbelieving anxiety or unholy curiosity; but after the fashion in which David prepared abundantly before his death. If we cannot find a successor to enter upon our service when we have to leave it, yet let us do all we can to make his work the easier when he comes to it.
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