Stand and Wait
As the summer of 1655 drew to a close, England’s greatest poet had a problem that left him restless. The legendary John Milton, who was then serving under Cromwell’s Protectorate government and would later become most well known for his masterpiece, Paradise Lost, was going blind. It was and remains unclear why the poet lost his sight at such a young age (he was not yet 50 by the time his blindness was complete), though he himself attributed his ailment to overworking. His writings from this period make clear his frustration and fear as a result of this development. How will the poet to the nation, known for his writing, continue on without the ability to write? How can a man who values himself on the basis of his skill evaluate himself once his skill is gone? Then there was the question that was the most pressing to his mind: How can a man with only one talent serve the Lord when his one talent is taken away?
It was in this season of difficulty that Milton penned what is in my opinion one of the greatest poems ever written:
When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide,
“Does God exact day-labour, light denied?”
I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need
Either man’s works or His own gifts; who best
Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is Kingly: thousands at His bidding speed,
And post o’er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.”
In this way, Milton found solace in the loss of what he considered his one talent. He knew, as he alludes to here, that the servant who buries his one talent is he who will be judged as faithless at the Master’s return (Matthew 25:14-30). He also knew, however, that there is value in waiting on the Lord who will renew the strength of the weary (Isaiah 40:27-31). His trials did not define his faithfulness; his faithfulness was defined in the midst of his trials and in his faith in the Master whose return was his deliverance.
I do not agree with everything Milton thought from a theological perspective, but I do appreciate his wisdom here. I am not sure how many talents I have – I don’t know of many people who have an exact count – but I am sure of the one who can help me use them in spite of my trials, for His glory. That is the certainty of being a Christian; that is the certainty of those who stand and wait.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7
AUTHOR: Luke Tatum
