In our society, retirement is a common idea. Some employers offer retirement benefits to their employees, whether it be in the form of a pension or matching the employee's contribution to a retirement account. Retirement seems like a reasonable expectation for a lot of people.
Naturally, many people look forward to retirement. It is a time when one no longer has to devote a large part of their waking hours working in order to make a living. There is more time for rest, hobbies, and spending time with family.
While there is nothing wrong with retiring from a job, we must remember that retirement is not an option when it comes to our spiritual responsibilities. We can never “retire” from being Christians. We are told to “be faithful until death” (Revelation 2:10). The Hebrew writer warns us to not “come short” of the promised rest (Hebrews 4:1).
Let us never quit our service to God. Rather, “let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11).
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
A Lion Outside
"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets'" (Proverbs 22:13).
This is one of many verses in the book of Proverbs that talks about the sluggard. The sluggard is lazy. He doesn't want to do anything or fulfill his responsibilities. Instead, he makes excuses ("There is a lion outside"). Is it a legitimate excuse? Is there really a lion outside lying in wait for him? It doesn't matter. His slothfulness has made him believe in the possibility of a lion outside, therefore, just in case, he will decide to stay inside.
The sad thing is that we do the same thing today. We make excuses, legitimate or not, for not doing what we are responsible for, or what we can accomplish. Instead of making excuses, we ought to look for solutions to dealing with whatever obstacles we face.
"There is a lion outside." This was the sluggard's excuse. What should he have done? Find a solution. What possible solutions would there be for dealing with this problem? Either kill the lion or avoid the lion.
The same is true for us. Find a solution. Eliminate the problem or work around the problem.
There are many areas of life where we could apply this principle. But let's consider one that relates to our service to God -- sharing the gospel with others.
Do you avoid talking to someone about the gospel because you don't know what to say? Eliminate the problem: study, prepare for anticipated questions and responses. Or work around the problem: invite them to church services or a Bible study with you and a preacher or elder. But don't envision failure ("I will be killed in the streets") and then do nothing.
Look for solutions, not excuses. If "there is a lion outside," do something about it.
This is one of many verses in the book of Proverbs that talks about the sluggard. The sluggard is lazy. He doesn't want to do anything or fulfill his responsibilities. Instead, he makes excuses ("There is a lion outside"). Is it a legitimate excuse? Is there really a lion outside lying in wait for him? It doesn't matter. His slothfulness has made him believe in the possibility of a lion outside, therefore, just in case, he will decide to stay inside.
The sad thing is that we do the same thing today. We make excuses, legitimate or not, for not doing what we are responsible for, or what we can accomplish. Instead of making excuses, we ought to look for solutions to dealing with whatever obstacles we face.
"There is a lion outside." This was the sluggard's excuse. What should he have done? Find a solution. What possible solutions would there be for dealing with this problem? Either kill the lion or avoid the lion.
The same is true for us. Find a solution. Eliminate the problem or work around the problem.
There are many areas of life where we could apply this principle. But let's consider one that relates to our service to God -- sharing the gospel with others.
Do you avoid talking to someone about the gospel because you don't know what to say? Eliminate the problem: study, prepare for anticipated questions and responses. Or work around the problem: invite them to church services or a Bible study with you and a preacher or elder. But don't envision failure ("I will be killed in the streets") and then do nothing.
Look for solutions, not excuses. If "there is a lion outside," do something about it.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Learning to be Idle
"At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention" (1 Timothy 5:13).
This verse comes during Paul's instruction regarding care for widows by the local church. He explained to Timothy why younger widows were not to be put on the list to receive continuing support. The danger is that they learn to be idle, which leads to other sins -- in this case, being gossips and busybodies.
King David is an example of one who fell into sin as a result of idleness. His sin involved Bathsheba. It began with lust, and proceeded to adultery, deception, getting Bathsheba's husband drunk, and ultimately arranging to have him killed in battle.
How did this happen to David? Notice the verse at the beginning of this account: "Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem" (2 Samuel 11:1).
In these times, military conflicts were led by kings. It was "the time when kings go out to battle." But did the king of Israel go out to battle? No! "David stayed at Jerusalem" while all the men of Israel went out to war. Since he was at home, and not where he should have been, what would he do to pass the time? Well, one of the things he did was sin with Bathsheba.
We need to be busy. We all have much to do. Paul instructs to make "the most of your time" (Ephesians 5:16). There is nothing wrong with taking a break to relax every once in a while. But there is so much we need to do, and much good that we can do beyond our fundamental responsibilities. Idleness prevents us from doing these things and opens the door for sin. Good is not accomplished and evil often takes its place. Let us guard ourselves from idleness so as not to give Satan any advantage.
This verse comes during Paul's instruction regarding care for widows by the local church. He explained to Timothy why younger widows were not to be put on the list to receive continuing support. The danger is that they learn to be idle, which leads to other sins -- in this case, being gossips and busybodies.
King David is an example of one who fell into sin as a result of idleness. His sin involved Bathsheba. It began with lust, and proceeded to adultery, deception, getting Bathsheba's husband drunk, and ultimately arranging to have him killed in battle.
How did this happen to David? Notice the verse at the beginning of this account: "Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem" (2 Samuel 11:1).
In these times, military conflicts were led by kings. It was "the time when kings go out to battle." But did the king of Israel go out to battle? No! "David stayed at Jerusalem" while all the men of Israel went out to war. Since he was at home, and not where he should have been, what would he do to pass the time? Well, one of the things he did was sin with Bathsheba.
We need to be busy. We all have much to do. Paul instructs to make "the most of your time" (Ephesians 5:16). There is nothing wrong with taking a break to relax every once in a while. But there is so much we need to do, and much good that we can do beyond our fundamental responsibilities. Idleness prevents us from doing these things and opens the door for sin. Good is not accomplished and evil often takes its place. Let us guard ourselves from idleness so as not to give Satan any advantage.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Rest for the Weary
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This is the great invitation offered by Jesus. He offers the invitation and makes the promise to those who will come: "you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29).
However, we must work in order to receive rest. We must take on His yoke. As a yoke is placed upon the oxen so they do the work their master guides them to do, we must do the work Christ has given us to do. Work precedes rest. And so we must see to it that we are working the "works of God" (John 6:28) so we do not miss out on the promised rest. The Hebrew writer warned, "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:11).
Jesus never promised a life of ease and comfort here and now. The promised rest comes after death (Revelation 14:13). We need to continue working as He would have us to and guard against becoming complacent. If we give up at the end and instead of entering into His rest, we "come short of it" (Hebrews 4:1), we will miss out just the same as those who never tried.
"Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest" (Hebrews 4:11) and "let us not grow weary while doing good" (Galatians 6:9).
However, we must work in order to receive rest. We must take on His yoke. As a yoke is placed upon the oxen so they do the work their master guides them to do, we must do the work Christ has given us to do. Work precedes rest. And so we must see to it that we are working the "works of God" (John 6:28) so we do not miss out on the promised rest. The Hebrew writer warned, "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:11).
Jesus never promised a life of ease and comfort here and now. The promised rest comes after death (Revelation 14:13). We need to continue working as He would have us to and guard against becoming complacent. If we give up at the end and instead of entering into His rest, we "come short of it" (Hebrews 4:1), we will miss out just the same as those who never tried.
"Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest" (Hebrews 4:11) and "let us not grow weary while doing good" (Galatians 6:9).
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