Don't Trifle

Charles Simeon endured great opposition and hardship in his church in Cambridge, England. He overcame it, however, and served Trinity Church as pastor for 54 years. Henry Martyn served as Simeon's assistant for a time before he set sail as a missionary to India. Martyn ministered in India for only four years before his untimely death at 31 years of age. Martyn's short life, however, was a source of great encouragement to Charles Simeon.

In four years of ministry Martyn was diligent: he preached often, established schools in India, and translated the New Testament into Hindustani, Persian, and Arabic. He once commissioned a portrait of himself that he had sent to his friend Charles Simeon. Simeon hung the portrait over his fire-place in his study. When anyone would visit Simeon in his study, he would point to the portrat and say, "See that blessed man. No one looks at me as he does. He never takes his eyes off me, and he seems always to be saying, 'The years are short. Be serious. Be in earnest. Don't trifle; don't trifle.'" Then Simeon would say, "And I won't trifle; I won't trifle."