Our work takes on even greater meaning when we realize that we are not doing it merely for a salary or for our personal fulfillment, but that we’re working to honour the great God of the universe! As a result we can bring an attitude of enthusiasm into our workplace.
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful” (Proverbs 15:13). If we are truly working for God in our daily labour, what are some ways we can cultivate a healthy, positive attitude in our place of employment? 1) Be a “can-do” person. When faced with setbacks on the job, we should not give up but rather work at finding a way to successfully complete our tasks. Instead of saying: “No, this can’t be done”, we can say: “It looks tough, but let me see what I can do”. The effort and determination we demonstrate will pay off regardless of the success of a project. Such an attitude is valuable for both fellow employees and superiors who see and appreciate it. 2) Dont complain. Nothing positive comes from simply complaining about a matter. Instead, it’s better to discuss a particular problem with a superior if we feel it’s directly affecting our job function or performance. When we do, it leaves the door open for something to be done to correct a negative situation. 3) Work hard. The popular expression “Work smarter, not harder” is misinterpreted by some to mean that we can forego hard work. the real meaning is that our efforts should be put to the best use (read Ecclesiastes 10:10)) we still need to exert effort, always doing the best we can. As Scripture says: “Whatever your hand finds good to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). 4) Be organized. Being organized means we can be more efficient, which allows our superiors to consider giving us better assignments. This is because he or she knows we can complete a task efficiently and on time. But how can we work for God and be energetic if we have a superior who is difficult to work with or seems insensitive and uncaring? The Apostle Peter explains what to do: “Servants, be submissive to your masters, with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully” (1 Peter 2: 18-19) Of course, employees are not slaves, and no one should endure mistreatment endlessly. But it is good to remember that, even though we are working for God as our ultimate employer, there is no perfect human work environment. So when we face difficulties on the job, we should exercise the wisdom found in these words: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made to God.” (Philippians 4:6). Indeed God wants us to recognize our need for His help and to ask Him for it. What if you are unemployed? If you happen to be unemployed, it’s no secret that finding employment in today’s difficult job market involves using creativity, ingenuity and regular steady effort. In other words, these are the very same qualities needed to perform soundly once you secure employment. You can use the same Biblical principles of diligence, initiative and tenacity BY MAKING A JOB OUT OF FINDING A JOB. Just as you would in any other occupation, you can spend 40 hours or more a week working at securing employment. Putting pressure on yourself to reach as many potential employers as possible each day will be motivating and encouraging in confronting feelings of inadequacy and rejection that sometimes goes with unemployment. I remember a long time ago when I wanted to leave school and earn money. As the youngest of three brothers, I was the last one remaining in school when my other two brothers were already working and earning money. To me, at the time it seemed that they were having the time of their lives. Each had a car and they were going and coming whenever they wanted. It looked like fun and I wanted in. What I did not see is the work they had to do to enjoy “the fun” they seemed to have. When I passed standard 8 (in the sixties that was high achievement) I nagged my parents to let me leave school and go to work. To my parents disappointment (much, much later in years, mine as well) I left school. I remember that day so well. I left school at the end of the year and I thought: “Finally, the “fun times” have come. The 2nd of January, my father kicked me out of bed at 5 am that morning and said: “Go find a job”. “Wow!” I thought, “That’s quick, I haven’t had ‘Fun’ yet”. But I was out that morning looking for a job. I was back at 10 am. I had found nothing and I reckoned I would try again tomorrow. WRONG! As soon as I got home, my father asked me what was I doing at home. I told him my little story thinking I had “really” looked for a job. “NO! NO!” my dad explained. “You need to spend as much time looking for a job than you would working in a real one.” And he kicked me out telling me I should come back at dinner time which was normally 6 pm. It went on for days when I finally found work here at the place I am sitting today and that was 41 years ago. During the years I have work “real hard” and I realized that the “fun times” did not come free; it was real hard work to have “fun”. What is the lesson here today? Don’t quick school too early you will regret it later in life. If you have supportive parents like I did, listen to your dad, he knows what awaits you. Learn as much as possible and if it’s too late for you, tell your children. Leave them in school. Encourage them to study hard and make the best use of their education. It will pay off because no one can take knowledge away from you. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3
D.L. Moody tells of a wealthy man who had found out he was dying of an incurable disease. Wanting to get things in order, he called for his lawyer and prepared his will. But this man had a little four-year-old daughter. The man’s wife just didn’t know how to explain to the young girl about what death means. So she simply told her, “Your dad is going away and he’s not going to be able to come back.” So the little girl went into her dad’s room, looked up in his eyes, and said, “Papa, do you have a home in that land you’re going to? This innocent question pierced the man’s soul. He realized that he had spent all of his adult life focused on amassing wealth and power but so little on what really counted. They lived in a beautiful home that he had to leave, and he didn’t know where he was going. My friends, are you like that man? A beautiful home here in this world, yet uncertain about the next? Are you sure that when that time comes, you’ve got a home to go to? Jesus tells us that heaven is like home - like home is supposed to be. There is only one way to be sure that we are going there. Jesus is the only way. Do you believe Him, or do you not? Having a home in heaven depends on you trusting in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. The teaching I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light. Mat 11:30
Paul had an interesting observation about the way we treat people. He said it about marriage, but the principle applies in any relationship. "The man who loves his wife loves himself" (Eph 5:28 ). There is a correlation between the way you feel about yourself and the way you feel about others. If you are at peace with yourself—if you like yourself—you will get along with others. The converse is also true. If you don't like yourself, if you are ashamed, embarrassed, or angry, other people are going to know it… Which takes us to the question, "How does a person get relief?" … "Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest" (Mat 11:28 )… Jesus says he is the solution for weariness of soul. When God Whispers Your Name (Max Lucado) "Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 'Never, Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to you!' Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'” (Matthew 16:22-23 NIV)
Insecurity demands that I must always be in control, must always have the last word, and must always have my way. Insecurity leads to power struggles, and the result is that we live in perpetual conflict. When pressed, we can even try to snatch something out of God’s hands, the way a child will grab something from another. In a sense, Peter is doing just that. When Jesus explains God’s plan, including his sacrificial death, Peter tries to snatch this cosmic plan from the Lord’s hands: “Never, Lord!” he says. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Matthew 16:22-23 NIV). You have to feel for Peter, because he’s a picture-perfect snapshot of the up-and-down struggle we have maintaining faith while living in a nasty-now-and-now world. It wasn’t very long before this that Peter had declared Jesus “the Christ, the Son of God.” And Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:16-17). Fast-forward a few verses, and Jesus rebukes Peter for “seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s” (Matthew 16:23 NLT). “You have no idea how God works” (Matthew 16:23 MSG). When we think like mere men, we distract ourselves from God’s plan and we get in the way of God’s purpose. Jesus’ rebuke isn’t a final statement of our dim-witted humanity; rather, it’s an exhortation that we can match our minds with God as we let the mind of Christ carry us to the things above. INTRODUCTION:
My father was a Pastor and when I was a young boy I remember him preaching and I remember him saying: ‘How much faith does it take to live your Christian life?’ I was always challenged by this challenge. Have you ever thought about it? Look what the Bible says: Hebrews 11:6 ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.’ Faith is our God-given ability to believe, trust and have confidence in God. Romans 12:3 ‘For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.’ For us as believers, faith is ‘God’s divine persuasion’ in our lives. We do not doubt; we believe, because we are persuaded. We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt. His Spirit bears witness with our spirit and we are convinced. Romans 8:16 ‘The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God!’ Let me share with you some thoughts on this all-important aspect of faith. 1. FAITH IS A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY AND NOT A DESTINATION Our Christian lives are a walk of faith; I like to call it a ‘voyage of discovery!’ God is the only unchangeable aspect of life. Every other aspect is subject to change at any moment. I have met people who think that they have figured it all out, only to have to face something that is outside their paradigm. It is not a destination. It is not something that one day you have figured out like a formula or a recipe. On one day, prayers may be answered and the next day they may seem to go unanswered. At times it may be that every promise is fulfilled and at other times the promises we have received may appear not to be fulfilled. But in all this, God is the constant and that is why our faith in Him is so important. It can be compared to a ship on the open sea. That ship cannot predict what will come its way. It may be that the ship has an experienced captain, but even he has not got it all figured out. The sea could throw a curve ball at him and leave him astounded. In the same way, we do not know what life will bring our way. But no matter what may come, God is with us and He is the constant in our lives. Never think you have arrived, rather just enjoy the journey and you will discover His faithfulness all along the way. 2. DISCONNECTED FROM THE WORLD AND SELF My brother is a pilot and loves to fly aircraft. One day he asked my uncle to go with him for a ‘flip’. My uncle responded and said he would fly anywhere with my brother as long as he could keep one foot on the ground. Of course that would be impossible, but that is often how we want to live our faith lives. We want to fly in this regard, but then at the same time we want to stay connected to the safe, the known and the things we know make us feel secure. We need to disengage or disconnect from these things. We have to have the courage to take that ‘one foot off the ground’! We are tied to so many things. But if you want to fly, you can’t be tied to the ground. We need to become detached from those things that have a hold on us. We need to be cut loose from all that would stop us. This includes things that the world may offer and also things within each one of us. Perhaps there is something that is holding you back? Like a ship that is tethered to the harbor can never reach its purpose or fulfill that which it was designed to do, so in the aspect of faith, if we stay tethered to what ties us down, we will never fly as we were designed and purposed to. And if we do not disconnect, then often we will go through shakings that bring us to the place of release. 3. WHAT IS FAITH WITHOUT SHAKING? I recently was on holiday in a small cottage close to the sea. For days the weather was fantastic and we enjoyed walks on the beach and time outdoors. But on the one night as we watched the weather forecast, the weatherman advised that a severe cold front would be passing and we could expect gale force winds. I wondered if he had got his forecast correct. The next day at about 11am the weather suddenly turned and the wind blew gales. It was actually quite scary. As I sat behind the sliding door of our unit and watched how it bowed in the wind, I wondered if our little house would survive the onslaught. The wind blew furiously for six solid hours and then it abated. Now I knew that that little cottage could stand the onslaught. My faith in that little house had been shaken, but now I knew it could stand the storms. Often, in a similar way, our faith will be tested and shaken. We need to realize that we are in a constant battle between good and evil. The Bible tells us about the struggles we will face. Ephesians 6:12 ‘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.’ 4. CONSTANTLY BELIEVE IN THE GOODNESS OF GOD One of the keys I have discovered in my walk of faith that has helped me is to constantly believe in the goodness of God. The truth is that God is good all the time and all the time God is good. He knows your every need and He causes all things to work together for our good. I have two young daughters. They are the joy and delight of my life. I endeavor to provide for them in every way I can. If however my daughter was to suddenly start worrying about where she would get her next meal from, or how she will afford the clothes she may need, or where the money would come from for her school fees, it would distress me. Good parents will sacrifice to make sure their children are fed, clothed and educated. I know some parents who will hold down two jobs just to make sure their kids are provided for. And yet, as children of God, I wonder if it does not distress God when we doubt His goodness in our lives and make our own plans in order to survive? Celebrate God’s goodness, believe God’s goodness and expect God’s goodness in your life. Just as a parent will sacrifice for their children, so God has and will sacrifice for us. John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son!’ If we could be convinced of God’s goodness towards us, it would change our lives. We would stand secure through all that life could throw at us. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD! 5. FIND YOUR SATISFACTION IN GOD ALONE We look to so many things in order to find our satisfaction. Let me give you a few: we look to our spouses, our parents, our children, our health, our careers, our resources, our education, our influence and our image. When what we need is to find our satisfaction in God. God is enough for you. It is not God and…….. something else. Let God be your answer to every situation you may be facing. When my daughters were small babies I would often get home from work and try and give my wife a break by holding the baby so that she could have a few minutes to rest. The baby would enjoy being with me, but after a few minutes she would discover that she was not with Mom. She would become restless and start moaning and eventually cry. I would give her back to her Mom and it would be as if she KNEW she was where she was meant to be and would relax and come to peace. You and I need to come to that place of peace in the arms of God. We must not look to other things to find this peace; we must find it in God alone. Perhaps today, you are searching in all the wrong places? Come back into the arms of your Heavenly Father. HE is all you need. Let everything else be a blessing, but let Him be all you need! There is an old song with the following words: He’s all I need, He’s all I need, Jesus is all I need. He satisfies, my needs provide, Jesus is all I need. 6. STAY AWAY FROM NEGATIVITY AND DOUBT Negativity is the rot that can undermine your faith. It is so easy to become negative. It almost seems as if we humans have a natural propensity towards doubt and negativity. Have you ever met someone who has a tone of negativity? They may not say anything bad, but you just know that they put a negative spin in everything! We live in a society that is dominated by negativity. Negativity and doubt will cause your life to be like something tossed about in a restless ocean. Jeremiah 15:19 Therefore thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah]: If you return [and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair], then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be My minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God’s faithfulness], you shall be My mouthpiece. 7. BELIEVE GOD NO MATTER WHAT AND ENJOY THE LIFE OF FAITH Don’t rely on your feelings, they can be deceptive. Believe God, believe His word, believe in His goodness and believe God no matter what things may look like or what you may be feeling. Choose to believe. When doubt, discouragement or despair confronts you, don’t just give in! Attack with God’s word and the persuasion of your heart. Quote scripture; speak out the name of Jesus and believe. Doubt your doubts, question your discouragement and challenge your despair. Let unbelief give way to faith. It is time to give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair. It is time to cleanse your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God’s faithfulness and BELIEVE! You too can enjoy a life of faith. You too can trust God and believe for the best, through every aspect of life. You too can enjoy this voyage of discovery. Hebrews 11:6 ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.’ NOTE: HE is the rewarder of those who have faith. HE is not the destroyer, HE is the rewarder! By: Andrew W Roebert “I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments.” (Psalm 119:60, NKJV)
Isn’t it interesting how easy it is to put things off? We plan on doing something. We have good intentions. We just plan to do it later. “One day I’m going to start exercising. One day I’m going to get my finances in order. One day I’m going to forgive that person who hurt me.” The problem with this kind of thinking is that “one day” never comes. There will always be some reason to keep delaying it. Is there something in your heart that you know you need to do? Maybe God has been dealing with you, and you keep putting it off. You think, “As soon as I get through this busy season, then I’ll spend more time with my family. As soon as the price of gas goes down, then I’ll start tithing my income. As soon as my child gets out of diapers, then I’m going to get my family back in church.” But friend, good intentions don’t equal obedience. The quicker you do what you feel down in your spirit, the happier you’re going to be. Don’t let unfinished business keep you from God’s best. Step out. Obey His voice and walk in the blessing He has for you! Father, thank You for Your patience and grace toward me. Search my heart. Show me the way to go. I choose to obey Your voice quickly and honor You in all that I do in Jesus’ name. Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
The problem with this world is that it doesn't fit. Oh, it will do for now, but it isn't tailor-made. We were made to live with God, but on earth we live by faith. We were made to live forever, but on this earth we live but for a moment… We must trust God. We must trust not only that he does what is best but that he knows what is ahead. Ponder the words of Isaiah 57:1-2 : "The good men perish; the godly die before their time and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from the evil days ahead. For the godly who die shall rest in peace" (TLB). My, what a thought. God is taking them away from the evil days ahead. Could death be God's grace? Could the funeral wreath be God's safety ring? As horrible as the grave may be, could it be God's protection from the future? Trust in God, Jesus urges, and trust in me. A Gentle Thunder (Max Lucado) 1 John 4:9-10 This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.
God is too big for people to understand. God is too big for us to really understand His love for human beings. We can be honest with one another: God’s reservoir that overflows with love for human beings is completely inexplicable to us, because when we look at people we aren’t really furry balls of love, like a six-week old puppy that curls up softly on your lap. No, human beings mess up seriously. They twist the truth and try to trick other people all over the place. Humans kill humans. Men throw their wives out on the street and run after their own desires. For a couple of cents or a cellphone some will take another person’s life. They mess up, man. They rage at one another and won’t ever forgive. And they still think they are great. But if you go and look in the mirror . . . And it is for this sorry bunch that God can’t help Himself and it is for them that His love overflows. It just doesn’t stop. The waves of love keep washing over these people. Will you and I “waste” our love on such a bunch of sinners? Certainly not! They do not deserve to be treated with love. They hit me. They knock me down on my knees. They try and take everything from me. They are selfish. I can’t cover them with a blanket of love. It simply does not make sense and I can’t do it. Finish en klaar. God can’t help Himself. His reservoir of love overflows for each of these messed-up human beings. This is incomprehensible, but from this incomprehensibility one realises again how great God is. God is greater than our man-made rules. Where we have boundaries to where our love can reach, God’s love continues flowing without end. In a way even man’s wrongdoing cannot stop God’s love. Yes, we can try, but when someone kicks you in the face two or three times we cut all connections and send that person to hell. Not God. God keeps on trying. He keeps loving that person and takes all the knocks on the chin. Incomprehensible. But this is how great God’s love is and that is why He is God. And God’s love overflows from the cross. For this sorry bunch God sacrificed His Son. Jesus’ blood had to flow from Him so that this bunch of sinners could get a chance of freely getting to heaven one day. Yes, for me and you too. How many times have we disappointed Him? How many times have we made the wrong choice? How many times did we stay sitting and refused to carry out God’s commands? How many times in an argument did we first throw God’s love out the door and continued destroying the other person with our tongue? And so we can keep on and on remembering parts of our past lives. And the surprise in all of this: God still loves us. God comes back again and again. God forgives again and again and with love He removes everything that stands between us and Him. My friend, God is so great! God’s forgiving stream of love keeps on flowing. It keeps on flowing just for me and you. When we realise this, out of gratitude we are “forced” to share it with the people around us. And we must do it. We must push ourselves to do it. We must plan and we must get help from others who can do it better than us. We must get up from the couch and rather spend our energy on deeds of love. Come on, let’s try and do and not just talk in the time ahead. Let us learn from our heavenly Father God and then go into the streets to sow that love. Let’s close our eyes to what people are doing and do what God does: flood people with love. J27 Then the world will be different. Then we will be different. Then God’s love will really hit the dusty streets of this earth! Praise Him! Reflection Do you really know how great God’s love is for you? What can you do out of gratitude? Who needs your love? Will you be able to give it without looking? Pray to God for strength. Cross-references Isaiah 40:28-29 John 3:16 Romans 5:8 2 Corinthians 3:17
'Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.' - When HE is the Lord of our lives we can really be free. - God does not want you to live in bondage. - Freedom is part of His plan and purpose for your life. - So live as one who is free and don't let things have a hold on you. PRAYER: Lord, the freedom You have prepared for me is the way I want to live. I choose You and Your freedom and I will not trade it for any form of bondage to the things of this world. Amen. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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