Draw The Line: God calls the Faithful!

In the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz- Dorthy’s famous words are: “There’s no place like home, There’s no place like home!”  

I think most of us would agree that there truly is no place quite like home. Vacations are wonderful, but there truly is nothing as good as returning home to the comfort of your own bed!  But, what if you no longer had the option to return home?

Think about this scenario: You are forced to leave everything- your house, city, church, friends, family and anything familiar. After your departure, you are then told you can never return. What would this feel like? To be forced away from the familiar, away from what is comfortable. It immediately invokes fear in our minds; this is what it would feel like to be exiled.

As we read through the Old Testament, Exile and Captivity seem to be pretty common events. On several occasions we see God’s people stripped away from their homes, away from comfort and forced to live in a new culture: In a place where they have no influence. Although these times and stories seem frightening, they are also the most exciting, because during periods of exile, bold, God fearing leaders are built and developed.

In the first chapter of Daniel, we see three truths arise during a period of exile. Hopefully we never experience the kind of exile we read about in the Old Testament; however, we are guaranteed to face challenges. But, the good news is, we are not alone- we are all facing challenges together, and this chapter shows a beautiful example of how we should trust the Lord during times of trials and temptation.

 

Daniel 1: 1-3 - During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives.

I.                Truth Number 1: Disaster Will Come

In the beginning of Daniel 1, Jerusalem was taken captive. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon came and not only took several sacred possessions; but he also took many young men captive.

This would be kind of like the President of China coming to America (obviously with his larger army) and taking our entire military captive and then going to all the Ivy League schools: Princeton, Harvard, Yale… Texas A&M (ha)… and capturing America’s strongest, smartest, most talented individuals. Pretty Scary!

What would you be thinking if you were one of those individuals- forced away from your home? Well, this is exactly what happened to Daniel, as he and several young men were taken away from their homes and brought to Babylon.

There are times that we too feel our own kind of exile. There will be a time that life takes something comfortable, or someone familiar away from us; either by our own choice or maybe by no choice at all. Maybe you are currently experiencing some kind of exile and your heart is broken, confused, and scared. This is a truth for us all: TRUTH: Disaster will Come!

Unfortunately the next truth is not much happier.

In the beginning of our text, extreme measures were taken to ensure these young Jewish men were stripped from their former convictions & traditions. These men were forced to face difficult changes and difficult choices- would they commit to the Lord, or would they conform under the pressures and temptations of the new culture? Truth Number 2:

II.              Truth Number 2: Temptation Will Come

Daniel 1:3-5

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives.  “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon. The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.

As soon as Daniel and the other men were taken captive, they experienced great pressure to become something that that they were not. Yet still, Daniel was not willing to compromise who he was or who he served. He was the Lord’s child and He was determined to serve only the Lord.

Skip down to vs. 8. Daniel 1:8

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Verse 8 is the most important verse in this text- if you have your bible, highlight it or star it... This is where the story turns from a story of bondage and captivity into something bigger-This is where the story becomes a message about how God works when His people trust Him.

Daniel didn’t put up a fight when he was given a new place to live or new clothing to wear, but, Daniel resolved (made up his mind) about who he would serve.  Because Daniel had drawn a line, long before there was an issue, he knew where he stood and therefore, had the strength to say: No More, enough. I will not defile myself!

For Daniel the line was defiling his body by eating the King’s unclean food. (If you are wondering why that was a big deal read through Leviticus 11) Daniel knew that it was wrong for him to eat the king’s food, because it was not only unclean, but it had also been presented to other “gods.”

It is right here, in the temptation that we can relate. No matter how you were raised (in church or not) there comes a point when we have to decide for ourselves:

Are we going to conform and blend in with the surrounding culture or draw a line? There are times when the world’s table offers really appealing things. A dish at Morton’s Stake House sounds way better than a plate of carrots! But it is during these times that we must ask: What is my true desire?

Many of us try so hard to do the right thing. Even though we all know the difference between right and wrong, we haven’t resolved how we will live. Instead we have chosen to live in the middle. But when we live in the middle, we live in a constant battle of choosing which side to lean towards… We want to do right, but we can’t kill our appetite. There are some other things that look fun and appealing!

Knowing that the Lord’s offerings are eternal and this world’s are temporary, why then do we still fall into temptation? Because it is impossible to kill your appetite! You can’t kill it…. But you can replace it!!

Luke 9:23- Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Our desires must be bigger than our denial….

I believe there is a deeper desire beneath all our “cravings.” We all long to be loved and accepted and most of all, we all want to serve a purpose! Did you know that is exactly what Christ offers- Love, acceptance, and purpose!? He offers all these things for eternity!

When we understand that Christ offers everything we truly desire, then our appetite for Jesus Christ will become so much bigger than any worldly appetite. This does not mean we will no longer crave the things of the world… Absolutely we will, but our desire for Christ becomes greater… The more we crave Christ, the easier it is to deny anything else.  

We can’t remove our appetite, but we can replace it with other desires… desires that are greater than denials. It is no longer about denying our cravings, but changing them!

So think about it for a minute… What is the world’s table currently offering you? Even if it only requires a small compromise … it will lead you astray from what your heart truly longs for.  

So before the world even brings temptations to the table, we must be like Daniel and resolve (decide) what we truly want. For me, I want things that bring me closer to my Father.

I’m pretty sure Daniel decided how he would respond before he found himself in this predicament. When the King’s instructions were given, he didn’t even think about what to do, because he had already decided where he stood. Without hesitation, he went to the chief of staff and asked for permission to be exempt from eating the food- There was not debate.

There are great benefits from having your mind made up in advance. When we have already decided, we don’t have to anxiously debate! We won’t be tempted to compromise.

Today the Lord does not give us a list of do’s and don’ts, we can go wherever we’d like, do whatever we want, eat whatever we want, be around whoever we enjoy, but… we still need to think about how these things bring us closer to, or farther from who we are living for.

 It wasn’t easy, but Daniel chose to remain faithful. Which leads us to our third truth:

 

III.            Truth Number 3: Faith & Discipline Are Required

 

In order to make it through disasters & temptations, we must first be faithful, but then we also need discipline.

Daniel 1: 12-16
“Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.

 

Not only was Daniel prepared to take a stand, but through faith and discipline, he also had a solution.  

Daniel knew how to conduct himself. He didn’t make a big scene, but he respectfully requested to be heard and because Daniel was faithful, the Lord made him strong!

 

Take Aways

So what can we take away from these three points?

• Disaster will Come
• Temptation will Come
• Faith and Discipline are Required

One thing I realized is that God is not looking for someone who is already influential- Daniel had no influence, but he was faithful.

 I believe God is looking for someone who is already faithful to make influential. Ill say that again: God is not looking for someone who is influential to make faithful; rather, He is looking for someone who is faithful to make influential.

 Many of us want to make an influence, we want to do big and great things for the Lord, but we have to first be faithful and truly trust him.

 Maybe some of us need to stop and say: “God I don’t know what lies ahead, but I do trust you. I know trials will come, I know I will face temptation, but through those things I will remain faithful to you!”

 It is your choice- Today; decide what desires you will put your faith in because those desires will be stronger than any discipline or denial.

 I encourage you to make Christ your desire, place your faith in Him and that desire will far outweigh anything!

You too are Priceless! (Proverbs 31)

Mother’s Day originated in the early 1900s… in fact, this year (2014) marks the 100^th year of Mothers Day!

This holiday began with a woman named Anna Jarvis. Following her mother’s death, Anna birthed the concept of Mother’s Day as a way to honor her mother’s sacrifices. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a degree that officially added Mother’s Day to the American calendar. However, as merchants and advertisers capitalized on the popularity of this day, Anna saw the vision of honoring mothers, becoming commercialized and tainted.

 Anna spent the later part of her life trying to remove this commercialization… Anna said: “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world.”

Wow! Mom, I really hope you still like my printed card after that. Anyways, I don’t think Anna meant we shouldn’t buy our mother a card, what she meant was that many of us take our mothers for granted… and it made her sick to watch as America used this special day as a way to capitalize on making a profit. That was never her intent.

According to Wikipedia, Anna Jarvis was a woman defined by her faith. Reading this I couldn’t help but wonder what her mother was like? Today, as we look at Proverbs 31, I wonder if this was the type of woman Anna’s mother was?

For those of you who have previously studied this chapter, you may have some varied ideas about the woman portrayed. When I first read this text my initial thought was “I feel so inadequate to teach this message: I am far from perfect, nor am I a wife or mother.” My other though was how do I relate this text to a group of Singles? Especially to the guys?

Although we are celebrating Mother’s Day, I believe the Lord has called all Christians (even the men) to have motherly characteristics in the way we interact with others. A mother is kind, patient, wise, loving, sensitive, and helpful.

Man/woman/single/or married- no matter who you are- the proverbs 31 woman should inspire you to live a life that honors the Lord.

So let’s turn to Proverbs 31, starting with verse 10.

Proverbs 31: 10- 12: Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?  She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

We see the rarity of an excellent wife. This woman cannot be purchased- she is worth more than any worldly good because she enriches her family’s life more than anything.

This woman is not afraid to get her hands dirty. She does not sit by idly, but she is always doing things that support her family. This woman even puts the health of her husband and children above her own. In the same way, we should put the well-being of others before our own.

I remember growing up my mother always wanting us to try some new health fad… although most of these were ridiculous- and we may have teased her about all the crazy things she would read or ask us to try- I truly believe in her heart was genuine care and concern for our well-being. She wanted us to look and feel our best!

Let’s continue with the next three verses: (v.16-18)

Proverbs 31: 16-18- She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.

This woman does not sit around expecting to be waited on but rather she jumps to prepare for her family’s needs. A mother’s role may look different from family to family… but in my house my mother wore several hats. I began to think about all the things my mother has done over the years and I asked myself…

*What would it cost to employ someone to fulfill her role? What would that job description be? The answer: she is irreplaceable. Not because she was perfect, but because she placed the Lord first, her family second, and herself last.

As Christians- (single, married, man or woman), this perfect woman gives us an example of how we too should live. Even though we are not a wife or mother, a husband or father- this does not mean we are not worth as much. That is the biggest lie! Although we celebrate Mother’s Day, God is not asking “Are you a mother?” but rather, He is asks “are you a child?” and “am I your father?”

If the answer is yes, then you too are priceless- Your heavenly father does not love you more or less for your relationship or family status… He loves you- no matter what! As his children we too have an irreplaceable value!

Going back to our text… Let’s skip to verse 23…

Proverbs 31: 23-27- Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

This woman builds her loved ones up, her words are wise- she is guarded and does not speak unwisely. This is because she values her family’s reputation. Think about how much most mothers take care of… I’m sure many could complain all day, but this woman chooses to clothe herself and her family with dignity. She doesn’t allow her emotions to come out in the form of complaints. She doesn’t fear the future, but her trust is in the Lord. She is a confident and loving servant.

We need to start practicing this kind of attitude now, while we are single. It is guaranteed that Life will throw problems and issues our way. The older we get, it seems the bigger the issues and it takes great maturity to not complain and/or tell everyone about your problems. When I am troubled or in disagreement over something occurring in my life, I natural want to tell everyone because I want them to share in my struggles. But this is unwise… the proverbs 31 woman does not divulge her issues to everyone because she knows that may harm not only her own, but her family’s reputation.

Are you practicing this now? Do you wear your emotions and problems on your sleeves? I know I do this all the time! For me I think it is out of fear… I search for too many opinions or too many solutions to my problems.

These past couple of weeks as I have sought answers and advice, I have really tried to make the Lord my first counselor. He has shown me that His love casts out all fear! But when I don’t turn to Him, I turn to others because I am so afraid of doing something alone. This week God gave me Isaiah 41:13. It says:

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you!”

The proverbs 31 woman understands that the absence of problems is unrealistic; she embraces them with courage knowing that we have an eternity of problem free living in Heaven! She does not seek her heaven on earth. She understands that this world is not her home & these problems are only momentary.

No matter where we are in life, we can be confident that we are not alone! God is with us, He holds our hand, He empathizes with all of our issues- big or small. We don’t need anyone else’s empathy or opinion because we have the creator of the universe on our side! Not just knowing these things- but believing them is what makes someone reflect the characteristics shown in Proverbs 31.

Lets continue…

Proverbs 31: 25- 31
 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

I love that reminder…when we have our mind set on Christ, He makes us beautiful. However, if you are like me, you will so easily forget that. I look at Proverbs 31 and see an unattainable list of qualities. Maybe you too think: “I will never be that woman” or for the men you are simply thinking: “I will never be a woman.”

So in the time we have left, I want to connect this passage to our single life… or for you guys- to your “manly” lives!  I want to answer the question: “How can I become more like a Proverbs 31 woman, and how does this passage apply to me?”

Proverbs 31 was actually written as a Mother’s advice to her son. These were the ideal qualities she encouraged him to look for in a wife. The beginning of the chapter starts out by saying: “The sayings of King Lemuel--an inspired utterance his mother taught him.”

This mother cared so much about her son that she outlined the ideal woman … so actually this passage was intended for singles! Even though originally intended for men in search of a wife; it also provides an example for single ladies desiring a godly husband J

It is unknown who King Lemuel is, but some scholars believe this is actually King Solomon, thus the mother giving this advice would be Bathsheba. I do not have a seminary degree or any super spiritual knowledge, so don’t quote this as a fact… but if this is true, I find it rather refreshing. Bathsheba was known for scandal more than virtue (If you do not know the story of David and Bathsheba’s affair, I encourage you to reference the story in 2 Samuel chapter 11).

I bring this up to highlight one thing: No one is perfect- not even the woman giving this advice… she could never attain all the Proverbs 31 Characteristics on her own… No one can be this woman without placing their life in the Lord.

I like this quote: I tried to do so many things for God that I missed being with God. But I've learned—the hard way—life isn't about keeping it all together. It's about trusting the One who can. —Nicole Johnson

As we think about all these perfect qualities, I want you to keep in mind- you will never be perfect and you will never find the perfect spouse. But when we give Christ control, He will put everything together. Through him we will display and attract proverbs 31 characteristics.

(LL) Colossians 1:20 says- Through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

(LL) 2 Corinthians 12:9 says- "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Scripture is clear- our weaknesses are reconciled and brought to perfection through submission. When we lay our weaknesses at the cross, his blood covers us and makes us appear perfect to the Father.

Although we do not have to be perfect, we should still want to live a life that reflects Christ’s perfection. What makes the proverbs 31 woman so significant is not that she appears to have it all together, but it is because she fears the Lord.

Her perfection does not stem from her skills or accomplishments, it stems from her heart. Just like this woman, our “perfection” is not our own- but it belongs to the one who owns our soul. We are a product of God… that is the only perfect thing about us.

I was blessed to have a mother who is a pretty close to perfect. Just like the Proverbs 31 woman, my mother is: Compassionate, Diligent, Wise, Kind, and most of all she is a Servant. I know many of you would say these things about your mother, but I am convinced my mom has more love than any woman in the world… (ok I might be a little biased)

When I think of all the sacrifices she made for me and our family, I am amazed- she is superwoman! This was not an easy calling, but my mom would give her life for any of her children or her husband. She is a proverbs 31 woman.

Looking at her life, gives me an example to follow. She has taught me how to be more loving and patient with others and now as I look to her more as a friend, she shows me that this kind of love is the same kind of love I should give others.

Work Hard. Play Hard.

Almost every introduction leads to the question: “What do you do?” Whether you admit it or not, we all find some identity or purpose at work. In fact, many people will define themselves by what their career. Everyone has a desire to make an impact; whether you wake up singing praises because you get to go to work today, or if you feel like you force yourself into the flames of hell at 8am every morning. (I really hope this is not the case- even if you dislike your job!)

 

Odds are most of us fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. There are days work makes us feel accomplished and valuable, but there are days it seems to drag us down or put us in an anxious, unpleasant mood.

 

No matter what your circumstance, the bible shows us that from the beginning, we were created to work. Genesis 2 tells us that “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

Yes God placed Adam and Eve in the garden to enjoy its delights, but they were also placed there to work. In order to enjoy they land, they were first required to cultivate its resources.

 

God designed work and gave us something to do, so that we would feel accomplished. In fact, work is a gift from the Lord- He doesn’t need us to do anything, but he gave us a job out of love. God wants us to feel accomplished! Just like a mother wants her child to feel like a big kid while being potty trained or learning simples tasks. We want our children to feel accomplished as they learn to do the little things, so that they continue trying bigger things as they mature!

 

That is what the Lord wants for us too! So He gives us this same encouragement as we face each day.  Work is not a punishment- Yet somehow- many of us have let our jobs, tasks, and responsibilities become a burden!

 

If we closed our eyes (you can do it now if you would like) and pictured Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, many of us would paint the wrong picture. I don’t know where I get this idea, but I am imagining a permanent vacation! Before sin entered the world, I picture Adam and Eve relaxing by the tropical waterfall, sipping on fresh squeezed pineapple juice (with one of those cute umbrellas), maybe having a mud facial, or soaking up the sun. Ahhh Paradise!

 

I am thinking- “man, they really messed things up for us… I would kill for a vacation right now! Why did they have to go sin and curse the rest of us? Now I have to go to work and take care of business.” Some of us may think that we are required to work because sin entered the world and now “money doesn’t grow on trees” and life isn’t a permanent vacation. This idea is completely wrong! As mentioned earlier- Adam was designed to work and work was never a punishment for sin! However, because sin did indeed enter the garden, the truth is this: We are not required to work because of sin…. but sin’s effect on work often makes it frustrating and unpleasant. *Sin changed the way we view work!*

 

Gen. 3:17- 18 “Because you listened to your wife, and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you’ll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk. (The Message Version)

 

It is because of sin, that many of us will view work as burdensome and/or painful. However, as Christians, we no longer live under the reign of sin and the effect of sin has no power over believers. If Christ Jesus is your Lord, then you are no longer trapped by the authoritative power of sin… When we die to our flesh and follow Christ, “work” can be restored to its original purpose.

 

Ephesians 2:10- For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

In other words- those who are in Christ have been given a job, a responsibility, or a calling. God has placed us where we are to proclaim his name- That means your true “work” is to be a light in your office, school, friend group, family, or wherever you spend your time. Even if your current situation is not permanent, you have been seasonally placed there for a specific reason- to work for JESUS!

 

Proverbs 20:4- A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall. (MSG)

 

Proverbs 24:30-34-

I passed by the field of the sluggard and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, and behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction, “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.” Then your poverty will come as a robber and your want like an armed man. (ASV)

 

 

Both of these verses involve a “timing factor.” Every season we walk through- or every job we will have- has specific tasks, responsibilities, and decisions. Sometimes we may want to throw in the towel or take a break… but we are here, in this season, for a reason- “If God has me here, there is still something to do.”

Instead of asking “Why am I here?” we should ask “Lord, what needs to be done today?” God wants us to finish strong… at work and in our current season… it might not be the time to take a nap or throw in the towel.

 

In Proverbs 24:30, two different men are described, first a slacker and then a man lacking sense. There are many days I know I am just down right slacking off, but there are also times that I actually don’t know or understand what I am supposed to be doing. When I don’t know what I should be doing or exactly how to do something, I will convince myself that it is ok to just sit and not do anything. “Better to not waste my time doing it the wrong way.” Or I will think: “it would be better for someone else to do this the right way- I will just wait.”

 

Sometimes yes, we should wait… but we should be actively waiting. If you aren’t sure how to do something that is your responsibility, then you need to seek counsel. ASK- don’t be like me. Don’t just do the minimum and hope someone else will come do the rest.

 

If you know me, and you know what I do, then you also know that I am constantly the person “lacking sense!” I am currently working on an IT project, and it is a small victory when I figure out how to do something as simple as post an Instagram photo. HA!

 

But in Proverbs 24 v. 30, Solomon was not referring to the man lacking mental knowledge, but he was referring to the man’s drive (or lack thereof!) In my case- it is ok that I am technology challenged… that is why God blessed me with a young college sister to give me free social media tutorials. And at work, it is ok that I do not know what I am doing 50% of the time… that is why He has provided amazing Co-workers to show me.

 

As believers, we are instructed to work wholeheartedly in all that we do. Sometimes, we may need to ask someone for help or we might have to do a little research… like in the shopaholic movie: “Did you just google: What is finance?”  Yes- and that is what we should do when we don’t know the answer… we should take advantage of the resources God gave us! This can apply to every area of life because- when we do not give our best it negatively affects the environment around us.

 

I will be the first to admit that I easily settle for “good enough,” especially when I don’t know the answers or instructions to follow. Usually I settle for average because I am lazy. I don’t want to seek advice or learn about an uninteresting topic. Many times I just try to get my 40 hours in, hit submit, and call it a week…

 

But like many people in our generation, I have the wrong view of work. Work shouldn’t be about how many hours we log; but rather, work should be about the output/results produced.

Many of us are more concerned with the appearance of putting in our hours than actually working. Instead of working longer, some of us need to work smarter!

 

Proverbs 6:6-8- Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. Without a leader, administrator, or ruler, it prepares its provision’s in summer; it gathers its food during harvest.

 

In proverbs, Solomon uses ants as an example. By paying attention to ants we can actually learn a few things about our work. Initially, when you look at an anthill, it may appear as if there are hundreds of ants running around frantically- just a bunch of chaos or activity.

 

Several of us feel like our lives are overloaded with activities- I know I feel this way- I run from one meeting to another to another (half of these meetings seem pointless- seriously, we hold a meeting to talk about another meeting?) After a busy workday, I may try and cram in a workout or an errand before dashing off to bible study, small group, or a dinner… and by the time I get home it is ten or eleven. I crawl in bed and think…. Did I do anything today that moved me closer to where I want to be? Usually the answer is no… then I will ask: well, did I do anything today that drew someone closer to the Lord? Or did I, myself, draw closer to the Lord? Sometimes the answer is yes, but more times than I would like, the answer is again No.

 

If I want to be efficient- at work and in my personal life, I need a plan. The things I fill my schedule with need to support that plan! I may have a long-term vision that has nothing to do with my current situation, but the work I do today will impact the direction I am going tomorrow. I believe God has placed you right where you are for a specific reason, whether you are there a month, a year, or ten years…. You wouldn’t be there if there wasn’t work to be done.

 

Even if you are looking for an out, as Christians, we are instructed to finish strong! That means we are to work smart… just finishing doesn’t take much effort…. People may not notice the way you start, but they will always remember the way you finish!

 

When you take a close look at the anthill, you will see every ant moving because they all have a job. No one has to tell the ants what to do… they just do it because that is what they were designed for. Unfortunately, some of us have forgotten what we were designed for. God designed us to work: work as a teacher, lawyer, mother, student, father, friend, small group leader or whatever you do… work hard and work smart in all that you do. You are working to reflect Christ.

 

Maybe it is time to evaluate your position and responsibilities: Where do you need to focus? What do you need to stop and what do you need to start?  If you hear only part of the message today, I pray that you do not hear a motivational speech to get busy… Life isn’t just work, work, work, plan, plan, plan… Don’t get so wrapped up in work or plans that you forget the purpose.

In Proverbs 6:8, Solomon says the ant “prepares its provisions in summer and it gathers its food during harvest.” We are called to make provisions so that we can gather in the harvest. The quote “work hard, play hard” can apply here.

 

God wants us to reap the rewards of our hard work, but He also wants us to enjoy the work along the way! There is a season to celebrate accomplishments or kick up our feet and relax… however, before the celebration begins, we must ensure the preparations have been made…but enjoy the preparation. This starts with our attitude…

 

Solomon gives us another analogy that corresponds:

 

Proverbs 14:4- Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

 

In Solomon’s day an Oxen served as a tractor would today. Just like a Tractor, the Oxen required maintenance- maybe even more. You would have to care for it, feed it and clean up after it. Owning an Ox was not a simple task, but without it, there was little chance of having a full harvest. Sometimes we have to make an investment to receive a profit.  

 

Again we see this in Proverbs 24

 

Proverbs 24:27- complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterward build your house.

 

We are not only instructed to make investments, but also to prioritize those investments. A farmer may need to repair his roof, but if it is planting season he has to determine which is more important- planting or repairing? (both need to be done but we must determine the priority- which should be done first?) If the farmer chooses to repair the roof first, he may miss some planting and come harvest time the roof won’t leak, but he might not have enough food for his family.

Sometimes the question is not Where to give our time or investment… but when.

 

This leads to our next topic: Giving… where are we giving our time? Where are we giving our resources? Scripture calls us to work hard and work smart, but it also instructs us to give generously.

 

Giving is always a great topic to speak on; however, it is not always a topic we rush to put into action. I can stand up here all day and encourage each of you to give and most of you would agree- “Yes, we should all give! Let’s change the world!” Those kind of motivational talks are great… but when we leave this room, will we actually do it? It doesn’t matter if we agree… what matters in this case is what we do.

 

 

I can’t speak for all of you, but personally, I don’t think to myself: “You know, I really don’t enjoy going to work at 7am everyday… But, it will be so worth it when I get to spend my vacation days serving others or when I get to give part of my paycheck to the church!”

 

No, not at all- I am usually thinking: “This will be so worth it when I get to go to the mall!” I really don’t think I am alone here…

So what does scripture say about the money & time that I have worked so hard to earn…

 

Proverbs 11:24-25- One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

 

If this verse is true… what then keeps us from giving?

 

Insecurity, Fear, & Comfort… those are Idols I constantly fight. When I earn any kind of money or reward, those three things typically control my spending, saving and giving. First- I struggle with insecurities, so I allow the world to influence what I see in the mirror and that leads to the products and clothes I purchase. Second- I fear my future stability, so then I hoard rather than save smart. Third- I tell myself if there is any left…. I should give. However; what is left always depends on the first two…

Even still, when I am obedient and give, that generosity STILL has selfish agendas. Most of the time, I give hoping to receive more in return. I may not verbally say it, but often I give with a belief that I must give in order to receive the Lord’s blessings... So I catch myself asking “Do I give for the wrong reasons? Will He still bless me if that is true?”

 

I have decided that neither of these is the right questions to ask…. Instead, the question I really need to ask is this: Is my giving motivated by love for God more than a desire to get something in return?

 

As I was writing this lesson, I realized a few things:

 

1.)  God appeals to rewards regularly in scripture, so the desire for rewards cannot be inherently bad.

 

×         Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you.

×         Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

×         2 Corinthians 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

 

There are several more… but I just wanted to make my point. God knows our human flesh wants to be rewarded for good… we cannot help it! We all want blessings.

 

So then I concluded…

2.)  It’s better to do right out of self-interest than to not do right at all

And this is Because….

 

3.)  God can change our inferior motives

 

God can change, mold, & soften an obedient heart more easily than a disobedient one.

Jesus provided the best example before he went to the cross. He too thought about His own comfort when he asked God if there was any other way. Jesus did not want to suffer on the cross, but He yielded to a higher desire—the desire to do the Father’s will and to save us!

 

It is ok to be motivated by rewards, but More Than that, we should be motivated to please God! When we I understand what Christ really did for me- that he really died in my place, He nailed my sin to death and gave me a new life so I could spend eternity in Heaven! When I grasp the truth of that, I will gladly work for Him… and the more I work for Him, the more I give him… the easier it becomes and the more I want to yield! The Lord molds my heart when I surrender!

Although I do like my paycheck, money is not enough to keep me at my job… my desire to please Him is what keeps me going. Yes, I must earn a living, but the biggest reason I go to work with a smile is to be a light! Many days I truly do not want to smile and many days I do not… but my heart longs to share Jesus Christ with everyone around me.  God instructs us to work hard and give generously so that others around us will see HIM!

Proverbs 11:23- “The desire of the righteous ends only in good!”

I am convinced that my story will end in good… no matter how it ends. So I must keep going, knowing that Christ is on my side! He will make sure my work and my investments do not go unnoticed.