A Black Hen Lays a White Egg

A Black Hen Lays a White Egg

Today’s post is not mine, but Charles Spurgeon’s, under the guise of John Ploughman (John Ploughman’s Pictures, The Bible Institute Colportage Association, Chicago). There is a note in the frontispiece informing that it can be mailed anywhere in the US if marked 2nd class mail for 2 cents. - In this article, Spurgeon’s grace-filled genius shines through.

The egg is white enough, though the hen is black as a coal. This a very simple thing, but it has pleased the simple mind of John Ploughman, and made him cheer up when things have gone hard with him. Out of evil comes good, through the great goodness of God. From threatening clouds we get refreshing showers; in dark mines men find bright jewels; and so from our worst troubles come our best blessings. The bitter cold sweetens the ground, and the rough winds fasten the roots of the old oaks. God sends us letters of love in envelopes with black borders. Many a time have I plucked sweet fruit from bramble bushes, and taken lovely roses from among prickly thorns. Trouble is to believing men and women like the sweetbrier in our hedges, and where it grows there is a delicious smell all around, if the dew do but fall upon it from above.

Cheer up, mates, all will come right in the end! The darkest night will turn to a fair morning in due time. Only let us trust in God, and keep our heads above the waves of fear. When our hearts are right with God, everything is right. Let us look for the silver which lines every cloud, and when do do not see it let us believe that it is there. We are all at school and our great Teacher writes many a bight lesson on the blackboard of affliction. Scant fare teaches us to live on heavenly bread. Sickness bids us send off for the good Physician. Loss of friends makes Jesus more precious, and even the sinking of our spirits brings us to live more entirely upon God. All things are working together for the good of those who love God, and even death itself will bring them their highest gain. Thus the black hen lays a white egg.

It seems that Spurgeon refers above to William Cowper’s hymn, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.”

Deep in unfathomable mines                    Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;


Of never failing skill                                 The clouds ye so much dread


He treasures up His bright designs            Are big with mercy and shall break


And works His sov’reign will.                   In blessings on your head.

Loyalty Programs

Loyalty Programs

The online version of Merriam-Webster dictionary gives recent examples in media of the word or concept that one is searching, For “loyalty,” here is the most recent: “Potbelly: Members of the free Potbelly Perks loyalty program can buy one Original or Big sandwich through Friday, March 21, and get a free one on the next visit.” That seems to be what passes for loyalty these days: Potbelly perks.

All of the recent examples given were from merchants seeking to establish a loyalty program whereby they could keep the customer coming back. It seems now that every chain has one. What must you do to enroll? Carry the card (your wallet will get fat) or download the app (you now have so many apps you can’t find what you want on your phone). In addition they want your phone number so they can send you a regular barrage of texts, and of course your email address. Spam. What do you get in return? Often, you don’t know for sure. I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten anything for the dollars spent at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts.

Now does it follow that you signed up for a loyalty program and if you shop somewhere else, you are being disloyal? Hardly. The meaning of the term “loyal” has been seriously downgraded. The merchant really has no obligation to you, nor you to them. It is just a trick on their part to get you to make their store a habit.

That’s a long lead-in to what the Bible says about loyalty. And as for that, there’s not much. It is not a common word in the Bible. The only verse in NASB, my preferred translation, is in Nehemiah: 13:14 Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services. The word “loyal” is from the important Hebrew word chesed, used over 200 times in the OT, and only translated as “loyal” once. I don’t think it should have even been translated “loyal” here! The word “loyalty” shows up only 6 times, and again is from the same Hebrew word, which in all the other cases, has better words by which it is translated.

So there we have it - I’m kind of down on this whole “loyalty” thing. It is a modern word that is used to trivialize a deep and dear concept about fidelity to the covenant which God, and not Potbelly, has made with His children. “Fidelity” is a “faith” word, and so it has the idea of keeping faith with the covenant with God whereby we uphold our end (the light end) of the covenant, even as God upholds the heavy end. Nehemiah labored in a very difficult role to fulfill the calling that God had placed upon his life, and he did so in accordance with the covenant, displaying godly qualities even in the face of difficulty and opposition. Participation in this covenant is a gift of grace, and yet that inclusion comes with the desire and responsibility to reflect the character of God in the outworking of His will and ways. It’s living in right relationship with God, a relationship that is given, but then lived-out in practical ways.

Potbelly’s loyalty program includes no covenant, no grace, no relationship, and the cheapest of rewards. March 21 has passed, and your free sandwich has expired. That’s loyalty for you.