Proverbs 13:17-19

An unreliable messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
The one who neglects discipline ends up in poverty and shame,
but the one who accepts reproof is honored.
A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but fools abhor turning away from evil.

We are all messengers. We are all walking and living and breath messengers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At least, you are if you have accepted him. Being faithful in that is imperative. We cannot run the risk of failing at this task because it is too great, the responsibility is to high. Back in the time that this was written, a messenger would have been someone who carried a message by horse or foot from one place to another. Often times the message would have been travelling from a person in power to another person in power. So, it was an important message. It was also important that the messenger be reliable and wise in his travels.

There were times that the message was important enough that they would send an envoy of people to ensure that the message got there safely. That’s one important message.

A reliable messenger is disciplined in his pursuit of delivering the message and when he has accomplished this task, it brings joy to his soul. An unreliable messenger is not willing to turn away from evil, and as a result falls into trouble, poverty and shame.

The question is, are we going to be reliable messengers. We all have a message to share. We all have something that has been put in us that is of utmost importance. Of course, that number one message is the gospel. But we all have other callings to which we must be faithful. Some of you are businessmen who need to be faithful in your call as a businessman. Some of you are pastors who have a very important message to share. Others are mothers who have a message to share in your house and building up your household.

For as many of us that are here, there are as many messages. In fact, you might describe this life we live and lead as a message to the world. We have been given a very precious gift, are you being a faithful messenger with it?