“FOLLOW ME” FEBRUARY 20, 2011

MATTHEW 4:12-25
FEBRUARY 20, 2011


There are times when authors in an attempt to be brief will leave out certain details that it would have been helpful to know. Last week we examined how Jesus was tested in the desert in a confrontation with Satan and the lesson that can be learned. What is left unreported is that there was an interval of time of over a year before Matthew again picks up the story in verse twelve. This passage provides us with an introduction to the start of Jesus ministry giving us an overview before Matthew begins with the Sermon on the Mount.
The four gospels taken together provide the church with a good understanding of the ministry of Jesus, which took place over a period of three years. We know Jesus ministry lasted three years due to the Gospel of John as he told of three different Passover celebrations. Each Gospel provides details when combined together provide us with a greater understanding than if we only had one account. Matthew does not record the first year of Jesus ministry as it picks up after John the Baptist was put in prison by King Herod. If you want to fill in the gap then read John 1:26 through chapter four. This includes Jesus preaching in his hometown of Nazareth, the wedding of Cana, the cleansing of the Temple, the conversations with Nicodemus and then with the Samaritan woman.
Jesus left his hometown of Nazareth, where his homeboys had trouble accepting him as a preacher and teacher. Jesus chose Capernaum as his home base. Matthew 4:13-17 (NIV) “¹³ Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-- ¹⁴ to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: ¹⁵ "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- ¹⁶ the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." ¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
It is important to understand a little geography at this point. Galilee was considered to be way out in the country, and away from the center of Jewish life, which was Jerusalem with the Temple. Galilee is the region that encompassed the ancestral homeland of Zebulon and Naphtali. Zebulon and Naphtali were two of the sons of Jacob and their land was the northern most boundary of Israel. Galilee was surrounded by non-Jews, as the Assyrians, Greeks and other nationalities surrounded Galilee. This region had a major highway, the Via Maris, the road to the Sea. This road was a major thoroughfare through the region. Matthew provided these details so we would understand how Jesus fulfilled prophecy.
The people of this region had often turned away from God to worship other gods. They were much farther away from the Temple and it handicapped their devotion and worship. Thus most Jews had a low opinion of the country bumpkins, who tolerated living among so many pagans (non-Jews). Yet this was exactly the place where Jesus began his ministry. “Listen, lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, lands along the road to the sea and east of the Jordan! Although your people live in darkness, they will see a bright light. Although they live in the shadow of death, a light will shine on them.” (CEV, Matthew 4:15-16) Jesus preached the same message as John the Baptist. ¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." The Jews in Galilee were influenced by the thinking and the customs of the non-Jews who lived around them. In much the same way we live in the midst of a culture that seeks to drown out the Christian message by enticing us away from what we know to be true. We too live in a land of darkness and we need to come to the light of Christ.
The message of Jesus is the same, yet Jesus proclaims it as the promised Messiah. It is very easy for people to misunderstand one another as we may use the same language but we may have a different understanding of what the words mean. The Kingdom of heaven was now at hand as Jesus was there. Yet Jews understood the kingdom to mean a kingdom here on earth, not a kingdom of heaven. Remember it was the people who chose to have Jesus crucified because he was not the messiah they wanted. Jesus came to deliver the message that God wanted them to hear. So may we hear the message that God has sent us.
Matthew relates the story of the calling of the first disciples; Andrew, Peter, James, & John, as if this were the first time they had seen and heard Jesus. We know from the other gospels that Jesus had known them for over a year. They had already seen and heard Jesus many times. They traveled with him and had seen several miracles and knew Jesus to be the one that John the Baptist had predicted. What we do not know is that for some reason, these four men had returned to their life work as fishermen. Jesus did not follow the pattern of any rabbi that was known. It was the custom for anyone wishing to learn more about the scriptures to ask a rabbi if they would teach them. Jesus did not wait for them to ask to become disciples, he asked them.
God shines the light into the darkness and invites people to come to him. Matthew 4:18-22 (NIV) “¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” The more we know and understand about Jesus, the greater is the demand for us to commit our lives to following Him. You may not have understood until now, as the light of Christ has dispelled more and more of the darkness in our minds that prevented us from responding. Jesus approached Andrew, Peter, James, & John, and called them to follow. We either choose to obey and follow, or we will return to our lives unchanged. A student stayed with his teacher until he was ready to take on his own students. Yet Jesus calls us to follow Him forever. We will always be his disciples who call others, not to follow us, but to join us in following Jesus
Matthew then provides us with a summary of the ministry of Jesus. Matthew 4:23-25 (NIV) “²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴ News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” Jesus taught in the local synagogues on the Sabbath to people who already understood that God had called them to worship Him. His message was to help them understand that the scriptures had foretold of his coming. During the week he preached to all who came, even those who would never enter a synagogue to worship. Jesus revealed himself as one who had the power to heal every disease. These miracles, along with the preaching and teaching would present one with the evidence that the messiah had appeared, and that he is God. Matthew presents us with this same information so that we too can respond and hear Jesus calling us to follow him.
When we choose to follow Jesus we are choosing to take Jesus with us everywhere we go. And wherever we go we are to live for Christ, inviting others to join us by accepting the Good news of God’s love and forgiveness. Will you follow the Master? Have you allowed Jesus to bring light and truth to your darkened life, or have you closed your eyes and ears to following Him?
Let us pray.
　

“FOLLOW ME”

“WHEN WE ARE TESTED” FEBRUARY 13, 2011

MATTHEW 4:1-11
FEBRUARY 13, 2011

“WHEN WE ARE TESTED”

I saw an article this week with the catchy title, “The unknown Enemy”. The enemy most often overlooked is not Al Qaeda, or the Taliban, or China, nor the drug cartels, or organized crime. The real enemy is Satan. Satan is pure evil and seeks to capture our hearts and minds. Jesus began his ministry not by immediately starting to preach. Jesus went into the desert being led by the Spirit into a confrontation with the devil. In this passage there are “two competing kingdoms who are seeking to claim the hearts and souls of men and women.” (NIV Application Commentary, Michael Wilkins) Most people focus exclusively on the confrontation with Satan and fail to appreciate the forty days that Jesus took to commune with God, his Father.
Jesus prepared for the confrontation by spending time in prayer with his Father. This passage holds the key to understanding how to confront our real adversary.
Satan did not make a frontal attack on Jesus. Jesus was hungry after forty days of fasting. One of the key words in this passage can be either translated as “tempted” or “tested”. A temptation is when a person is enticed to do something that is contrary to God’s will. A test is the opportunity for a person to prove himself or herself faithful in doing the will of God. James 1:2-4 (NIV) “² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Temptation and Testing are the two sides of the same coin. Satan intends us to fail the temptation while God intends us to be strong and faithful in resisting the temptation and pass the test.
Matthew 4:3 (NIV)
The scripture Jesus used was from Deuteronomy 8 where the children of Israel failed the tests in their forty years in the desert. Deuteronomy 8:2-3 (NIV) “² Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” Satan was attempting to cast doubts on the trust that Jesus has for his Father. Is God really there? Can I trust God to take care of me 24/7? Satan wants us to doubt that God is always there for us. Lucifer want us to think we are alone, with no one to help us.
In the second temptation Satan quotes scripture from Psalm 91. ⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" If Jesus had thrown himself off of the Temple wall, then the angels would have intervened to catch him; this would provide Jesus with a spectacular entrance before those in the Temple. This display of power would have instantly gained Jesus a following and revealed him as definitely having the blessing of God. Jesus was being challenged to proof his relationship before the people, yet in a way that would have been displeasing to God. ⁷ Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Jesus had already heard the words of the Father when he was baptized. Matthew 3:17 (NIV) “¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." God had his own plan for His Son. Jesus trusted God, his Father, and was going to follow the way the Spirit had revealed to him.
Satan twisted the scriptures for his own purpose. Psalm 91 is a hymn of praise of those who trust in God. Satan seeks to cast doubt so that we will not believe and trust the Word of God. Satan seeks to make us trust only ourselves. Jesus was led by the Spirit and he showed his trust in God’s word as seen in his quoting the scripture from Deuteronomy 6:16 where the children of Israel had tested God in the desert at Massah. ⁷ Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”Satan made a third attempt to trip Jesus. " ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." The devil offered Jesus a short cut to bring the nations to bow before Jesus. This shortcut did not involve a cross but bowing before Satan. Our desires, which are not necessarily bad, tempt us to take short cuts to fulfill them. Yet we should ask ourselves if the shortcut will be pleasing to God. ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" The devil is powerful, yet he fled at the command of Jesus. James 4:7 (NIV) “⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) “¹² For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” We must take our stand on the truth of scripture.
When Satan fled at the command of Jesus, then his needs were taken care of. “¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” Jesus provides us a pattern of how to fight Satan, our real enemy. [1] Resist the devil. James 4:7 (NIV) “⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV) “¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” When tempted, we should just say, “NO”. [2] Our strength and power comes from the Holy Spirit, not from our own feeble strength.” Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength.” [3] The Word of God is our guide. John 8:31-32 (NIV) “³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Psalm 119:11 (NIV) “¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”A mother went to be early one evening, but was unable to sleep. She sometimes liked a snack during the night so she kept bowl of fruit on her nightstand. As she lay there with her eyes closed, she heard the footsteps of her young daughter. The little girl thought her mom was asleep and tiptoed into the bedroom and she took a large bunch of grapes from the bowl and then crept back to her own room. The mother lay there quietly and was disappointed with her daughter in stealing the fruit. A few minutes passed and the child crept back into the room and replaced all of the fruit in the bowl. As the little girl left, the mother overheard her whisper. “This time I beat you Mr. Devil. Now go away!”
May we follow in the footsteps of the little girl. “This time I beat you Mr. Devil. Now go away!”
Let us pray. “³ The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Satan was not trying to get Jesus to doubt himself being the Son of God. The devil was attempting to get Jesus to prove himself by misusing his powers. It sounds like a boy saying “I double dog dare you”. Jesus was confident in the love of His Father, which gave him the strength to resist the dare. Jesus responded by using scripture. ⁴ Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Jesus was hungry, but there are more important things than food. Yes, it is true.

“GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION” FEBRUARY 6, 2011

MATTHEW 3:1-17
FEBRUARY 6, 2011

“GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION”

A preacher told his congregation that he was going to preach on honesty the next Sunday and he asked everyone to read Joshua 25. The next Sunday arrived and the preacher asked how many had read it? Half the hands in church were raised. The preacher said, “Great! Now you’re the ones I want to talk to. Joshua has only 24 chapters, and I am especially concerned about you.” In our culture lying has become an art form. What is most troubling is when people lie to themselves and will refuse to face the truth even when the truth will save them.
God called John the Baptist to preach a message of repentance to the nation of Israel. John did not open up his ministry in a big town but in the desert south of Jerusalem. Matthew 3:1-3 (NIV) John’s message was not new but followed the pattern of all of the prophets that God sent to awaken the people to the truth they needed to hear.^{1 “}In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea ² and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"
The message of repentance is sometimes confused with being remorseful or sorry for what the person has done. This is only part of repentance. True repentance calls people to a change in attitude toward God, which then impacts one’s actions and overall direction in life. “External signs of repentance included confession of sin, prayers of remorse, and abandonment of sin.” (NIV Application Commentary, Michael Wilkins) Repentance is a radical change of behavior. If there is no change in behavior then being sorry for one’s sins is only regret, which implies that a person is being dishonest with themselves. They are not facing the truth of their sinfulness and making a change in their behavior. John was calling the people to clear away any obstacles in their lives that hinder them from responding to God. He told them to prepare their heart and their life so they would be ready for the kingdom of heaven. A person who is not truly repentant is not ready to respond to the forgiveness that Christ offers. When we choose to follow Christ we will be headed in a new direction.
Matthew records the clothing of John, but for what purpose? Matthew 3:4-6 (NIV) “⁴ John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. ⁶ Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”
It sounds like John was extremely weird! Matthew was providing us with this information so that we would understand that John was very poor. Poor people used the hair of goats and camels, which when woven provided a thick, dark cloth that was almost waterproof. It would be worn like a cloak or poncho with a leather belt around the waist. John was not a snazzy dresser wearing the finest silks or Egyptian cotton. His food sounds gross. Yet even today in many parts of the world grasshoppers are dried and then ground into a flour. This meal is very nutritious as it contains protein and fat and with the wild honey provides a balanced diet. Yet it is food that only the poor choose to eat. I’m sure that type of meal did not attract a lot of drop in company. “Is not life more important than food?” said Jesus. John lived what he taught. John was more concerned with turning people back to God than in enriching his own life.
John’s ministry attracted a lot of attention as it was close to Jerusalem. The Pharisees and the Sadducees traveled down to check John out. The Pharisees were lay people involved in the local synagogues and were very committed to the oral traditions of the law. The Sadducees were from the priestly families involved with the Temple. These two groups were often opposed to each other. Yet they both came down to observe. Matthew 3:7-10 (NIV) “⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” John called both groups a “brood of vipers”. Vipers are a small poisonous snake that are usually born in groups of twelve or more and are noted for subtle attacks, as was the serpent in the Garden of Eden. John accuses them of having ulterior motives instead of coming to get right with God. Both groups were very prideful and thought well of themselves. They thought that simply being born a Jew gave them the upper hand in dealing with God. Even today many people brag about their heritage. It is not unusual for someone to boast of descending from a long line of Christians. Yet John states that their parent’s beliefs will not save a person. God can raise up children from rocks if He chooses to do so. Judgment day is coming to everyone who does not live by what they say they believe. John called the religious leaders to repent. Talk is cheap and hypocrisy is real. John called them to be honest with themselves and to see their need to open their hearts to God.
John tells the people whom he has baptized to get ready for the coming Messiah. Matthew 3:11-12 (NIV) “¹¹ "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." The Messiah was to come both with pronouncing judgment and to bring healing by the Holy Spirit. The Gospel is both good news and bad news. Notice that there is no indication of a middle ground. We will either be wheat or chaff!
It is at this time that Jesus appears before John. John recognizes Jesus as being the promised Messiah and is surprised that Jesus desires to be baptized. John did not understand because Jesus did not need to be baptized. So why did Jesus ask to be baptized? Jesus was beginning his ministry and wanted to be identified with his people in their need. Jesus came to save us from the consequences of our sins, which was death. Remember that Joseph was told about the child to be born to Mary. Matthew 1:21 (NIV) “²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." Jesus, the Son of God, came to be with us sinners.
Jesus began his ministry by identifying with the lost. Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV) “¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." In this scene we see the Trinity revealed as God reveals his approval of His Son, “Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." The Spirit descended as a dove. John the Baptist later spoke of this time. John 1:32-34 (NIV) “³² Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ³³ I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
What we need to understand is that becoming a Christian involves being completely honest with ourselves. Without Christ, we are lost and will remain hardened to the truth of our utter sinfulness. Every time we feel repulsed by the sins of someone else we should be aware that our own sins repulsed a Holy God. It is only by the sacrificial death of Jesus, who took on our sins that we are able to stand clean before our God. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV) “¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” The walk of faith always begins with repentance. Without repentance there is no faith and no salvation. Proverbs 28:13 (NIV) “¹³ He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” I invite you to be honest with yourself. If you have not been honest and think that your goodness wins you a place in heaven then you have deceived your self. Ephesians 2:7-9 (NIV) “⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.” Christ stretches out His Hand to us and asks us to acknowledge our utter sinfulness and then accept the gift of his grace, the forgiveness of our sins. If you have never asked Christ to do this for you I invite you to do so now.
Let us pray.

“RULES FOR LIVING” JANUARY 30, 2011

COLOSSIANS 3:1-25
JANUARY 30, 2011

“RULES FOR LIVING”

I “googled” (researched) these statistics on working. The average American will live 74.1 years and of those years will work an average of 45 years. This works out to be over 90,000 plus hours on the job. As a result we will spend a tremendous amount of our lifetime at work. So what is your opinion of working? For many people, including many Christians, work is viewed as only a place to get a paycheck. Does God have anything to say about work? Some of you may be surprised to know that God has provided a significant amount of scripture on hard work and on being lazy.

Did you know that work is a gift of God? In Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NIV) “¹² I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. ¹³ That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God.” However, our culture promotes the idea that work is a necessary evil, with the main purpose of receiving a paycheck and benefits from our employer. This view point of the world and of work ultimately leads many to a self centered focus. The individual is more concerned with what the company is going to do for “me”. In contrast God says that we should concentrate on glorifying God and that work is one of His Gifts to mankind. Again from Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 (NIV) “²⁴ A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, ²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” It is necessary for a Christian to have the right perspective on all of life. Jesus understood His Father’s will for us. In Matthew 6:25, 33 (NIV) “²⁵ "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Life is a matter of priorities, and God comes first.

Unfortunately most people do not understand the benefits of living life according to God’s rules. When a person follows the viewpoint of being more concerned only with themselves, the result for many is to become lazy. Scripture provides many warnings about individuals who do not value hard work. Proverbs 19:15 (NIV) ¹⁵ Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry. Proverbs 20:4 (NIV) ⁴ A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. In his letter to the Thessalonians Paul warned the church in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." ¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. ¹² Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.”

It is often interesting to listen to the excuses people will give for not working. The author of Proverbs lists some of the excuses given by a sluggard in his time. The dictionary defines a sluggard as a lazy person. Proverbs 22:13 (NIV) “¹³ The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside!" or, "I will be murdered in the streets!" When we make excuses for not wanting to work we will find many barriers, or anything that keep us from work. We will make up any excuse to hide the fact that we are lazy. Proverbs 15:19 (NIV) “¹⁹ The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.” I have already shared with you my struggle with self discipline. Before we jump onto “those people” who do not work for a living; we need to examine how often we love to be a couch potato at home. When we are honest with ourselves we should admit that there can be a lazy streak lurking in most of us.

When I was in college I worked one summer in Panama City Beach, FL at a construction site. I was down at the beach with several other college students participating in a Campus Crusade work project. We worked during the day and took Bible and campus leadership classes at night. One of my co-workers was a fellow believer. One day he approached me at work and shared his observation that I had begun to not work as hard. He thought I was becoming a slacker. Proverbs 18:9 (NIV) “⁹ One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” After the initial shock of his reproach, I considered whether or not it was true. I came to the conclusion that he was correct and that I was not setting a good example for non- Christians. I have grown to appreciate my friend’s honesty and courage in speaking to me. I would like you to ponder how others may view your work habits and your attitude toward work.

What is your attitude toward work: do you always work hard or are there times when you coast and take it easy? Proverbs 14:23 (NIV) ^{23 “ Do we simply talk about working hard or is hard work a habit we have developed and maintained until it is a part of our character? Proverbs 21:5 (NIV) “5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” These troubled economic times have created a hardship for many people. Even as Christians we might be tempted to seek to live on credit for a while. We already talked last week about the problem of debt and of borrowing money. In a conversation with a person I admire she told me a hard truth that she had learned. “One can’t borrow money to get out of financial trouble, one must work your way out of your problems. It means working and saving every penny you can!”}All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

God promises that He will bless us for doing what is right. Proverbs 13:4 (NIV) “⁴ The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” When we accept Christ we are not only forgiven, but we are called to live by new rules, to have a new attitude. Colossians 3:1-2, 22-25 from The Message, “So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ- that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’’ get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.”

There was a young fellow who was helping his dad with the spring planting. He had the responsibility of planting the kernels of corn. He had started well. But one of his friends came by and invited him to go swimming. His father told him he could go when he was finished with his work. The young man sought to hurry up the planting. He dropped a few more kernels than he had been directed. He began to go faster and faster as he thought about his friends swimming. He eventually dug a hole and dropped the rest of his seed into it and covered it up. That night his father asked him if he had finished planting. He told his father that he did finish. The young man began to be more and more concerned as the days went by, but he pushed down his guilty feelings. Then one day his dad called him to the field to see his work. The first few rows were evenly spaced between the plants. Then the rows began to look more and more crowded as the plants were on top of each other. Then there was a complete jumble of plants from where he had dumped his bag. His father spoke to the boy and told him “that eventually your work will be seen for what it is”. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) “²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” May each of us hear the Spirit speaking to us?

Let us pray.