6 Sermon Illustrations on Faithfulness of God

Called by God to full-time Christian service, the man resigned a lucrative job, left a specialized career of 20 years, and took his family over 2,000 miles to a strange city to enter seminary. He was able to obtain only part-time employment in his profession and his annual salary was barely one-third of what he had earned before God called him. The costs of being in seminary and of keeping his two children in Christian elementary school became heavier and heavier. When things got too tight he stayed out a semester, but his children went to school. Finally, his wife, who had not worked since the first child was born, took a full-time job. All the while the man's prayer was to share with God his heart's desire that he be given work in Christian service that would make ends meet while he went to school and served his Lord Jesus Christ. Though he enjoyed many opportunities to preach and to minister without pay, full-time Christian work eluded him. He began to seek full-time employment at secular jobs, but he knew in his heart if he landed one that probably would be the end of seminary. One day a series of unpredictable circumstances arose whereby in less than two weeks, without any effort on his part, the man was in a full-time job utilizing his specific talents, in full-time Christian service, and with an employer that insisted that he continue in seminary. God faithfully prepares hearts in times of trial and temptation. And when His time is right, He delivers.

I might show you the Tahitians, when France took possession of their island not many years ago, hurrying to the mountains, and leaving their Bibles with the missionaries until they should come back, to save them carrying them so far; and ere long they were back in the face of all danger, to say they could not live without their Bibles, and must have them whatever should befall. There is an Irish peasant, copying with his own hand the entire Scriptures. There is a Hindoo dying, and under his head lies his treasure. What is it? Some dirty scraps of paper, worn and tattered, which he had got years ago, — texts of the Bible translated and written by a missionary, before Bibles in the language were to be had. There is a soldier hiding it in his bosom as he goes to the wars, and a sailor tying it round his waist, as the most precious thing on board, ere the vessel goes down. There is one calling it his best earthly friend; and another, his book of bank-notes; and another, sweeter than honey, better than gold.

— J. H. Wilson

Sir William Napier one day met a poor child who was crying bitterly because she had broken her bowl. Having no money with him, he promised to meet her in the same place at the same hour next day, and give her money to buy another. Reaching home, he found an invitation to dine out with a gentleman whom he particularly wished to see; but he declined it on account of his pre-engagement with the child. "I could not disappoint her, she trusted me so implicitly," he said.