WORKING FOR THE LORD, NOT FOR MEN
It’s so easy for us to look at what we do for Jesus and compare it to what we see others doing. Then we think we aren’t doing much and aren’t important. We become discouraged and don’t try to do our best any more. Or we look at people doing less than we are doing and take pride in ourselves because we conclude we are doing quite a lot for God. Both of these approaches are wrong. It’s really hard to have a true perspective on what we accomplish for God, and viewing ourselves through the glasses of our fallen nature skew our perspective even more. So how are we to view our service to God?
Like craftsmen working on a great cathedral, we have each been given instructions about the particular stone we are to spend our lives carving, without knowing or being able to guess where it will take its place within the grand design. We are assured, by the words of Paul and by Jesus’ resurrection as the launch of that new creation that the work we do is not in vain. That says it all. That is the mandate we need for every act of justice and mercy, every program of ecology, every effort to reflect God’s wise stewardly image into his creation. (Source: N. T. Wright, Surprised by Scripture)
The workmen who built the great cathedrals of the past have always impressed me. I read of one man who spent much time carving a bird out of stone. It was to be located in a place where it couldn’t be seen by anyone looking up from below. Yet the man did his very best because he knew that God above would see his work, and that is all that mattered to him.
Each one of us are carving parts of God’s great plan. Only God sees how it will all fit together for His glory and purpose. All we can do now is faithfully serve in the way we are able, knowing that one day we will see how it all fits together. Then we will be glad we did our very best, and we will realize that comparing what we do with what others do is fruitless. We must faithfully do our best in whatever God gives us to do. Truly He sees all we do.
2 Corinthians 10:12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
What gifts, talents and opportunities has God given you to serve Him?
Are you tempted to compare your service for God to that of others?
Are you able to be content with what He has given you and faithfully do your best at it?
Jerry Schmoyer
Christian Training Organization
india.christiantrainingonline.org/