SELECTED TO SERVE

Jesus chose twelve men to follow Him. He set the model for them in His service to His Father, and mandated that they walk in His steps. We are selected to serve. It matters not what we do, we have this call as Christians. In this case, Paul was speaking to those who were bondslaves. If they saw that ultimately they were not serving men, but God, there would be a dignity bestowed upon their labor which would be transformative.

We are to serve the Lord COMPREHENSIVELY, “whatever you do.”  If you are a plumber or a pastor, a soldier or a sailor, a builder or a baker—there is no such thing as secular work. It is all spiritual service to Christ, if we are saved. We have been selected to serve.  This is comprehensive in its scope. 

We are to serve the Lord HEARTILY, “do it heartily.”  It would be a difference-maker for the preacher on Sunday morning if he would face his opportunity enthusiastically. That might impact the congregation as well!  It can be a contagious thing. It is an attitude adjustment for the employee on Monday morning that would direct him to say, “Good morning, Lord!” instead of, “Good Lord, it’s morning!” It will affect the mother who is rising in the night at a baby’s cry, if she hears this as a summons to serve Christ. Hear the Psalmist’s exhortation, “Serve the Lord with gladness,” (Ps. 100:2a). 

We are to serve the Lord EXPECTANTLY,  “as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”  We do not work for a paycheck on earth, but a payday in eternity!  We may think ourselves underpaid for the labor we perform. We may work hard all our life and in our old age have little to show for it—we think. But, if we have been faithfully and joyfully serving Christ through that vocation, then He is watching, accounting, and will in Heaven be rewarding us for that work!

I write this on Saturday, and Sunday is coming, so let me say a special word to those who work in church. There will be some pastors who read this who will stand in a pulpit with more empty pews than expectant people tomorrow morning. They may pour their heart out and be met with a yawn from the handful of sleepy saints who are there. Someone will have prepared to direct the music and the singing will not have the energy or harmony befitting praise to God. A Sunday School teacher will have readied a lesson and maybe one or none show up to hear. Elsewhere, a small number give sacrificially to keep the lights on and the doors open. You may be the bi-vocational pastor who perspires under a hot sun Monday through Friday to inspire the people with a sermon on the Lord’s Day or you are privileged to be in a larger work, perhaps with multiple services—yet both of you collapse exhausted on Sunday evening. No matter what we do in the house of God, the Devil will have some critics there to make us feel that we are failures.

Do not forget there is One who attends our gathering who is soaking it all in, and writing it all down. Jesus is sitting in that congregation, choir loft, or classroom!  One day you can hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matt. 25:21). 

The old Gospel song is a wonderful reminder:

Sometimes the day seems long,
Our trials hard to bear.
We’re tempted to complain,
to murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
to catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
in God's eternal day!

It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life's trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ. (Esther Kerr Rusthoi)

In a few minutes I plan to mow my lawn and later review my sermon to the glory of God!

JESUS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

When is a door not a door?  When it’s ajar!  I know that’s corny, but it makes an important point. The Christian is not just someone who tries stopping certain behaviors, but, by the grace of God, becomes different than they were.  The Apostle Paul speaks to this in Ephesians 4.  Of course, he tells us to stop sinning against our fellowman, but more—to start serving our fellowman.

Paul, the champion of grace, reminds us of the place of our works.  We are not saved because of what we do, but there are things we don’t do and actions that we do because we are saved. “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” (v.28‬)

When is a thief not a thief?  When they become a productive member of society.  It isn’t enough to stop taking—though we must.  We are to also start giving. Bonnie and Clyde were notorious bank robbers, yet they didn’t steal 24 hours a day.  But, neither were they contributing to the good of others.  The Christian life runs on two tracks—a negative and positive—if it isn’t to be derailed.  We must stop taking from others in selfishness and start contributing to others in selflessness.

Not only are our works important, so are our words.  “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (v.29‬). Words are powerful.  They can hurt or they can heal.  We are not to carelessly tear down others, but to carefully build up others by our speech.  We can choose corrupt or constrictive language.  Whatever is in the well of our heart will be brought up by the bucket of our mouth. If there is grace in our soul, then there will be grace in our speech.

God deliver us from sin and direct us into sanctification!  Take away the old and put in the new, Lord!  Do you know what that is?  Repentance. We turn from wickedness and turn to righteousness. Christ makes a difference!

THE WORTH OF WORK

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:6-11 NKJV)

A misreading of the Scripture might convince us that work was the punishment for Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden. Actually, they had been given the assignment to cultivate the soil before sin messed up paradise.  It would be the toil and thorns, the sweat and weeds that would result from the curse.  

Work has always had worth and been part of God’s design for us.  When we work in our yard or we grow a garden, we are reclaiming a bit of Eden from this fallen world—redeeming it for God as His stewards.  On our job, our motivation as the servants of God is not just a paycheck, but to glorify God.  Whatever our vocation may be, it is a sacred calling and divine service rendered.  There is dignity about it, when viewed this way. 

Sloth is sin.  When we are being paid to do a job, and we don’t put the effort in, we have stolen from our employer by taking money we haven’t earned.

The ant is our model.  The industry of these little creatures is how they honor their Creator. Watch them work, and emulate them.  Nobody ever saw a lazy ant. 

Don’t be guilty of sloth.  The sluggard can always find a reason to hit the snooze alarm—again and again.  That is a formula for poverty. Let us teach a younger generation the worth of work.  There are too many parasites who live on the government treasury or someone’s compassion—not because they can’t work, but they won’t. 

WORSHIP, WORK, AND WITNESS

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light….  (1 Peter 2:9)

We have all heard of coach potatoes—are you a pew potato?  Without exercising our faith, we will be spiritually flabby.  Paul said, “exercise yourself toward godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7b).  It is time for a workout!  Peter speaks of three areas needing attention to grow strong in faith.

WORSHIP BUILDS HEALTHY HEARTS (1 Pet.2:1-5).  Peter is talking about the heart of our Christian experience—worship—and how our heart for God can beat strongly.  You will never grow spiritually beyond the level of your experience with God. Physically, cardiovascular disease is a killer.  Two keys to a healthy heart are diet and exercise.  This is true spiritually.  We are to feed upon the Word of God (v.2) and exercise our faith in the pursuit of God (v.4a).  This is a good description of what worship is all about.  Notice that WE HAVE A SANCTUARY (v.5) “living stones…being built up a spiritual house….”  The church is not a building of bricks and mortar, but a living thing constructed of the individual members.  WE ARE GOD’S SERVANTS (v.5) “a holy priesthood….”  The Old Testament priests were set apart to minister to the Lord.  In the New Testament, every believer is a priest who comes before God to worship.  WE OFFER SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES (v.5) “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God….”  Jesus said the only acceptable worship is offered in spirit and truth. 

WORK STRENGTHENS HELPING HANDS (1 Pet.2:9-18).  Peter points out that because of who we are (v.9)—our position—it affects how we act (v.11-12)—our performance.  A sedentary lifestyle will never build strength.  There is no easy way to develop spiritual muscle.  Growing strong as a Christian requires intense effort.  We are chosen—set apart for God’s service (see Eph.2:8-10).  When are you going to grow up and get to work?  A mark of physical infancy is that you require constant care.  Babies demand attention.  They make many messes, but never clean them up!  It was a happy day when my girls got old enough to wash the dishes and the boys grew strong enough to mow the grass!  That meant they were growing up.  How about you?  Are you here to be served or to serve?  Perhaps you aren’t an active member of a local church.  Don’t you think it is time to enlist and get busy?  It is unthinkable to me that someone could be content to look at the sacrifice of Jesus and not respond with grateful service to Him!

WITNESS DEVELOPS HEALING SPEECH (1:22-2:1, 6-9, 21-25).  I don’t think I’ve ever been to the doctor that he didn’t say, “Open your mouth and stick out your tongue.”  He shines a light in and looks around.  You can tell a lot about a person’s health by looking in their mouth.  How true that is spiritually!  Some of us have mouths loaded with disease (2:1).  Our words can hurt and our words can heal.  The most important thing we can say is a good word about Jesus.  People need to hear the Gospel—this is the seed of eternal life (1:23-25). Taking in the word of God is essential to spiritual growth, but unless we share it, we will get fat and not fit.

Worship, work, and witness are marks of spiritual health.  Ready? Exercise!

GET BUSY!

 

He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,

But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.  (Proverbs 12:11)

In all labor there is profit,

But idle chatter leads only to poverty.  (Proverbs 14:23)

We are saved by grace, apart from works, but the grace that saves us works in us to produce work through us.  Grace is the fruit of my life, but works are the fruit of that grace.  We work out what God works in.  If we are not diligent, disciplined and determined in our efforts, we will not be successful in our service.  You will never be productive in any realm of life by merely day-dreaming—you must flesh out dreams with deeds!  We may wish for better days, but will never see them until we work in better ways.  Big talk breeds poverty, while a better walk brings prosperity.  The wisdom of God found in the words of Solomon makes this plain.  The afore-mentioned verses are only a sample of much Scripture found in Proverbs on the subject of industry. 

Two old sayings are, “You get what you pay for” and “talk is cheap.”  Someone has said, “When all is said and done, there is more said than done!”  Dreams and schemes accompanied by hesitation and procrastination are inexpensive at first, but will be costly in the extreme down the road.  It is like neglecting maintenance on your car or house and ultimately receiving a bill for a major repair later that was avoidable by vigilance and diligence in the smaller things today.  Doing the right thing will cost you in the present, but it is not to be seen as a loss, but an investment that pays rich dividends in the future. 

No man was more committed to grace than the Apostle Paul, yet no one was more constant in good works than he was!  “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”  (1 Corinthians 15:10)  He would go on to issue this challenge to us, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  (v.58)  Paul defended the Gospel wholeheartedly, but was devoted to good works continually.  He would uncompromising toward any who would subvert the truth that faith in Christ alone saves us, but was unrelenting in calling for an enthusiastic effort in response to that doctrine.  In his own life, he was unwavering in his passion and unstoppable in his pursuit of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The sacrifice of Jesus calls us to give our all on the altar in response.  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  (Romans 12:1).  In the words of the old hymn, “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe.”  Now, GET BUSY!

 

THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT SUCCEEDS

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.  When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.  So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.  Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.  So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”  And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”  But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.  Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.  (Luke 2:41-42)

 

Some businesses fail—a lot of them do.  You go into business to succeed—so you need a successful business model.

 

The greatest business is God’s business, and Jesus is the perfect model!  Already at the age of twelve, He knew what His business was and knew how to do it.

 

Jesus was in the house of God.  In fact, some translations render verse 49, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (ESV)   He knew worship was His business.  Our lives must be properly oriented to God if we are to be what He wants us to be.  Our duty to go to the House of God should be a delight.  It was for Jesus.  On Sunday mornings if someone were looking for you, where would they look?  They ought to go first to the church building.

 

Jesus was speaking of His relationship to God.   It was His Father’s house and His Father’s business.  He knew that witnessing was His business.  His lips were giving a testimony of His relationship with His Father.  Are people surprised when they find out we are Christians?  They should not be.  God has done so much for us that we ought to speak of Him daily!

 

Jesus was focused on His service for God.  He knew that work was His business.  He wasn’t a parasite draining resources but a producer distributing them.  His inspiration moved Him to perspiration.  He did not work to become a Son, but worked for His Father because He was a Son—even if it meant submitting to the toil of Joseph’s carpenter shop.  You don’t earn your salvation by your effort, but as God’s children we ought to be moved to exertion in the Father’s business.  We can claim all we want about our faith, but our conduct displays the reality of it.  Are you a slacker or a servant?  The Boss is watching!

 

Jesus demonstrates the successful business model.

"I'VE GOT TO GO TO WORK" OR "I GET TO GO TO WORK"

How we a start out a Monday morning in a workaday world sets the tone for the course of the week.  God knows we need a break; He set the Sabbath principle for our good.  Still, following our rest from weariness, there is to be the renewed cycle of a return to work.

For the child of God, all things are to be done “Christianly.”  The dichotomy between secular and sacred is an unbiblical notion.  We do not hang up our faith in the closet with our Sunday clothes after church, and don a secular suit for the remainder of the week.  While out apparel may change, our attitude toward life is to be constant—that we are ambassadors for Christ at all times—in the church, in the home, at our play, and even in our work.

There is a DUTY in our work.  “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” (Gen.2:15)  Work is not a punishment associated with the curse.  The difficulty associated with work is a consequence of sin.  But, from the outset, humanity had this assignment from God—to care for His creation.  I show my humble devotion to God when I go off to work.  Unless I am asked to do that which is contrary to the will of God, then I am to fulfill my duty to God as I work.

There is a DIGNITY in our work.  “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” (Gen.1:28)  We are, as it were, God’s agents to govern His creation.  We have a sacred stewardship to care for God’s world, and when I do my job well I am joining in partnership with His purposes—carving out a little bit of paradise again, reclaiming it from the curse of sin which lies like a somber cloud over creation.

There is a DELIGHT in our work.  God looked with pleasure on all that He had made and declared our creation and our assignment as, “very good” (Gen.1:31).  What He finds pleasure in should bring joy to us!  Paul would put it this way, “Slaves, obey your human  masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men…” (Co.3:22-23 HCSB).  If the Apostle expected a slave to so respond to his master, then surely the Spirit of God intends for us to find delight in working for our employer!

There is a DECLARATION in our work.  If we are slothful, or somber, we silence our opportunity to declare the hope we have in Christ.  People ought to see something different about us on Monday—a spirit, a joy, a hope—that they don’t have and that they need and crave.  This will lead them to inquire as to this amazing spirit and we can respond with a declaration of the difference Jesus makes, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…” (1 Pet.3:15)  To claim to follow Christ and to be a slacker on the job—or grouse about it—undermines the credibility of our testimony.

There is a DEADLINE for our work.  Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”  We all have a limited number of days on this planet. One day we will punch the clock for the final time.  As long as God gives us strength to rise out of bed, we should be grateful and industrious.  A glad and thankful attitude ought to mark the realization that God provides us the opportunity to serve Him and supply our needs by having the health to be on the job for another day.  We then are, “redeeming the time,” by exchanging the coin of this realm for the currency of eternity.

That leads me then to say, there is a DESTINY in our work.  Heaven will be an extension and elevation of the good of this life.  We will be rewarded for our labor if done in the right way and for the right motive,

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  ‎Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  ‎If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor.3:11-15)

We are wrong to consign this judgment to only those “spiritual” works we do in connection with the church.  None should neglect what happens within the four walls of the church building, but God is watching what happens inside the walls of the factory too!  God bless the missionary who travels overseas to share the Gospel, but God rewards the missionary who journeys to the office and lives the Gospel, also!  You may not get the paycheck you merit in this lifetime.  But, what can compare to the payday in that Day?

Let me challenge you with a DEMONSTRATION of our work.  Two men have been instrumental in teaching me the virtue and value of industry—my father, Homer Thurman, and my father-in-law, Bob Crayton.  My Dad exhibited a work ethic that was superlative in going to the grocery store as a produce manager, going to the church as a choir director, and laboring at home mowing grass, planting gardens, washing cars, building and repairing houses.  Perpetual motion was his lifestyle.  His health has now declined but his example remains in my memory and challenges me.  Though I did not know him as well or as long, my wife’s father struck me as the same kind of man.  During the time I knew him, he was the foreman of a large cemetery—not exactly the most glamorous of jobs (though I did remark, “He’s over a lot of people”).  Yet his attitude was great and his effort was excellent.  Those who worked for him had a model supervisor.  His last years were spent caring for an invalid wife—which he did with the same devotion and more.

So, which will it be, “I’ve got to go to work,” or, “I get to go to work!”?