Who do we Work For?

Have you ever been asked to perform a task you didn’t want to do? Most of us have. Some dislike their jobs and the mundane activities they face day after day. God offers some advice that can help us get through those times.

We should “render service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man” (Ephesians 6:7). Paul echoes this same sentiment in his letter to the Colossians: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward” (Colossians 3:23).

No matter what job we have, no matter what good deed we may do, we should always have the attitude that we are doing it to please the Lord. This is especially helpful if our boss (or the recipient of our deeds) is ungrateful for our service. No matter what man may think, God rewards our hard work and will always appreciate our service. That alone should motivate us to keep working for the Lord.

Hand in hand with the knowledge that our work is for the Lord, we must remember it is for the glory of the Lord, not our own, that we serve. Jesus condemned the Scribes and Pharisees for doing their deeds to be noticed by men. They wanted the praise of men more than the praise of God. Jesus says, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11, 12).

**All Bible quotes are from the English Standard Version (ESV).

When Trials Come Our Way

Have you ever met someone whose life seems perfect? Her marriage appears strong and loving, she’s always winning a contest or drawing, her children excel in everything, and she rarely has to deal with the “serious” problems in life – disease, life-altering injuries, or financial disasters? I have. Sometimes picture-perfect lives are illusions. Other times, those lives really do seem to experience a great deal of fortune.

But what happens when someone who is not used to disappointments experiences a let-down? They tend to crumble. Fall apart. Stress out. Why? Perhaps it’s because they have not (yet) been given the opportunity to produce steadfastness by the trials life often hands us.

James writes, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Purpose

Trials have a purpose. First, they test our faith. God wants to know we serve Him not just when things are going well, but when life is difficult. When the rich, young ruler learned what he must do to follow Christ, he turned away. To this young man, Jesus asked too much of him. We must be willing to give up everything in order to serve God. That means we will remain faithful to God and refuse to escape into sin when trials come our way.

As we endure each trial, the next one becomes a little easier to work though. We continue to build our faith and patience (or steadfastness) as we take one step after the other in God’s service. James says that the “full effect” of our steadfastness is completeness (in our character). As my dad used to tell me, life’s trials “build character.”

Trials serve another purpose. Paul writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:3, 4). Not only does God comfort us during our trials, we can pass this comfort along to others when they face difficulties. How do we do that? Since my breast cancer diagnosis almost 15 years ago, I have had the opportunity to offer encouragement and comfort to other women facing the same disease. When a brother or sister faces a trial similar to one we have experienced, we can say, “I’ve been there. I survived, and so can you!”

Paul also points out in 2 Corinthians 1:9 that trials are designed to help us rely on God. When we hit bottom and require Someone greater than ourselves to lift us up, God is waiting for us to grab His hand.

Pressing On

There are several steps we can take when facing trials to help us successfully endure.

1. Remember to do the right thing. Often when we face trials, we also face temptations. Sinful options may be very appealing when we are in survival mode.

2. Remember the reward. James says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (1:12). There is nothing in this life worth having if it means giving up eternal life with God.

3. Remember that others have endured. You may feel alone in your struggle and that no one else has ever hurt as much as you do. But Scriptures are filled with examples of men and women who faithfully walked with God during their darkest moments.

4. Lean on your brothers and sisters-in-Christ. The Hebrew writer tells us to exhort and encourage one another to help prevent us from falling away from God. Trials may present a faith challenge, and we need encouragement to help us continue down the straight and narrow.

Momentary Affliction

"Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering -- since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thessalonians 1:4-8 ESV).

Most of us have never experienced the persecution the early Christians did. But I see the prospect of persecution increasing in this country. The prevalent attitude in America is that we are living in the "post-Christian era" (USA Today). The majority of the politicians do not consider God's laws when writing the laws of the land. Our president is establishing policies that violate God's emphasis on personal responsibility and the purpose of government -- to punish those who do wrong and reward those who do right.

I predict that we are heading into a time like no other in our nation -- a time when Christians in one form or another will be persecuted.

While reading 2 Thessalonians the other day, the above passage caught my attention (even though I've read it hundreds of times before). A recurrent theme in the New Testament is Paul's praise for those who remained steadfast in the face of persecution. In 2 Thessalonians 1:5, Paul ties faithfulness during persecution with being considered "worthy of the kingdom of God." Isn't it easier to be faithful when our lives are uncomplicated than it is when we face difficult challenges? Jesus noted that even sinners love those who love them (Lk. 6:32). That's easy. However, loving and doing good to those who hate and abuse us is far more difficult, yet it's the path Christians must walk. And in doing so, we become the "sons of the Most High."

Our reward and relief may not come during our time on earth. In 2 Thessalonians 1, Paul tells us that God will afflict those who afflict us and grant relief to us WHEN Jesus is "revealed from heaven with his mighty angels" (vs. 7).

I say this to encourage all of you who are trying to do God's will and are concerned with the direction our country has taken. Times may get tough, but we need to look beyond this life to what God has prepared for us in eternity.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18 ESV).

How a Christian Behaves

The label "Christian" is used as loosely as the word "love" in our conversations. We love ice cream, movies, songs, and puppies. But at some point, we must recognize that real "love" has a deeper meaning and more serious consequences. Real love, as God defines it, demands that we give of ourselves, that we act in the best interest of another -- whether or not we "feel" like doing so and regardless of how others respond.

Anyone can call himself a Christian. We even use the word as an adjective -- a "Christian" nation, a "Christian" family, etc. Luke writes in Acts 11:26 that the disciples of Christ were first called Christians in Antioch. Throughout the New Testament, we read God's instructions to Christians about how they should live their lives. For example, prior to Jesus' death, He teaches His disciples how to respond to the world around them:

"But I say to you, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (Luke 6:27-28).

Similarly, the inspired apostle Paul writes in the book of Romans, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God...." (vs. 17)

"To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...." (vs. 20)

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (vs. 21).

Does this sound like a person Homeland Security needs to add to their "terrorist suspect" list? Of course not! Yet those who live by these values and standards are included in the "right-wing" crowd our government considers a threat to our nation's well-being.

No doubt, there are always individuals who call themselves Christians, but by their fruits (behavior), they deny Christ rather than glorify Him. A distinction must be made between those who label themselves Christians and those who are Christians.

**All Bible quotes are from the English Standard Version.

Disappointments

We all face disappointments in life. Sometimes our initial response to disappointment is anger or sorrow. If we dwell on what went wrong, we may become bitter or depressed.

I've been teaching our ladies Bible class from the book But How Can I? Improving Your Christian Attitude by Doris Black and Charlotte Mize. The authors recommend that we focus on two aspects of life in order to avoid the emotional fallout from disappointments.

Focus on our Blessings

In 2 Timothy 1:15-18, Paul discusses his disappointment that everyone in the province of Asia deserted him. But then he turns his attention to the one who helped him - Onesiphous. Instead of obsessing over those who abandoned him, Paul focuses on the blessing of Onesiphous' support. When we are faced with disappointments, we should remember our blessings. If it helps, list them on a piece of paper and review them often.

Remember Your Purpose in Life

Paul never lost sight of his purpose in life. We need not forget either. On numerous occasions, Paul faced imprisonment or physical persecution for preaching Christ in public. No doubt, these were disappointing times for Paul. Yet, he remembered his purpose...."I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus." Living for Christ and bringing others into the same relationship with our Savior was Paul's purpose, and he kept-on-keeping-on regardless of the consequences.

The wise man Solomon, inspired by God, tells us that man's whole duty or purpose is to "Fear God and keep His commandments" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

I was recently disappointed when a job I hoped to cinch didn't pan out. I may still be without a job, but I must remember that my purpose in life is to serve God and teach others -- no matter what my situation may be.

During this time of personal financial and job loss for many, we can find comfort and strength in remembering God's promise to care for those who put Him first, as well as the purpose God has given us that can never be taken away from us!

To Many Americans, Obama is Santa Claus

Obama's "approval rating" is nearly 70%. My confusion lessens somewhat when I consider that this is the opinion of primarily Democrats who tend to base their approval on emotional attachment rather than performance. Since Obama became president, the stock market continues its downward spiral as the economy in general flounders. Do you think if a Republican sat in the White House, his approval rating would be so high under these economic conditions? Of course not! We saw what happened to President Bush every time the media reported a tidbit of economic bad news: It was all Bush's fault; and as far as some liberals are concerned, it still is.

So what's the difference? Obama is spending like a toddler out of control in a toy store, promising to give everyone (except the "evil rich") something. Why else would a 63-year old woman ask our president for a new bathroom, kitchen, and car, truly expecting Obama to deliver? Millions of Americans see something the rest of us don't -- a man in a red suit, a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly, and a long white beard sitting in the Oval Office (when he's at home). Obama is the ultimate Santa Clause who's in town not for one night but for at least four years.

The prosperous era we've been privileged to live in has created an entitlement mentality. If our neighbor can afford to buy a new car, we should, too. Owning a house is no longer a blessing but rather a right. Hence, Big Government stepped in and forced financial institutions to loan money to those who couldn’t afford to pay it back. And thus began bailout after bailout of institutions and irresponsible individuals alike. Yesterday while Obama held a Fiscally Responsible Summit touting the importance of controlling spending (yes, I’m laughing), the House Democrats unveiled yet another huge spending bill worth $410 billion dollars with at least 3.8 billion in earmarks (Associated Press).

Obama has been less than honest lately, claiming that the first so-called stimulus package did not contain any pork barrel spending or earmarks. Yesterday he echoed the same “responsible” spending attitude that no federal spending sprees would be tainted by tasty liberal pork plates or earmarks. And just days earlier Obama bemoaned the sky-rocketing interest rates, which are still at historic lows. Lies.

A New Revolution is brewing with tea parties planned in several major U.S. cities this spring. As a Christian, I would never advocate participating in illegal, immoral, or unethical activities. The New Revolution should begin with history and economic lessons for every legal American voter and end at the ballot box where the fiscally irresponsible are sent packing.

Encouragement

The recent economic woes and massive job losses paint a bleak picture of the American economy. We now have a president who has no regard for the sanctity of life and espouses catastrophic economic policies. In addition, the largest block of voters pay no taxes or very little, so there is no incentive to vote out leaders and representatives who promise welfare funds in order to maintain power. It is predicted that in the near future, 90-95% of taxes will be paid by those earning $65,000 or more, which constitutes a smaller block of voters who will have little influence to enact "change" in the right direction.

I believe immorality will grow more rampant, thus our elected officials will respond by enacting laws that represent the country's moral bankruptcy. Our freedoms will erode, and Christians may find themselves persecuted for speaking out against sin. As capitalism dies and socialism takes over, more and more people will become enslaved to the government for answers, job losses will increase, and we'll have less money for good works -- let alone to provide for our own needs.

I have no hope for the future of our country. But I am not worried nor depressed. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). I have to live in the world, but I don’t have to get caught up in earthly worries.

As our preacher pointed out in our sermon Sunday morning, the deterioration of our country may be God's way of telling Christians to "wake up!" We have been blessed to live in perhaps the best time in American history. Have we served God out of convenience? If we can't bring ourselves to meet with God's people three times a week for study and worship, will we muster the courage to secretly gather with our brethren? If we are down to our last dollar, will we still be able to say, “God will provide”?

Consider the environment the first century Christians lived in. The corruption and persecution didn’t keep them from serving the Lord “no matter what.” Christians were not deterred from teaching and preaching God’s word in spite of the authorities telling them to stop. And they encouraged one another to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2).

What’s done is done. We cannot – nor may we ever be able to – change what has happened. But we can encourage one another to be faithful and trust in God – no matter what. In times that can be economically challenging, we should pray like Solomon:

”Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches – Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and I say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:9).